NEWS

RP, Skorea Renewed MOU for EPS
14 August 2009

The Philippines and the Republic of Korea has signed ten agreements, including the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Employment Permit System (EPS) which will open the door to the employment of up to 5,000 workers to South Korea within the next ten months.

President Gloria Macapagal - Arroyo and South Korea President Lee Myung-bak witnessed the signing of the MOU by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Marianito Roque and Ministry of Labor Minister Lee Younghee last May 30, 2009 at the Blue House (Cheongwadae), the executive office and official residence of the President of the Republic of Korea and venue of the bilateral meeting between the two presidents.

In a statement issued by DOLE, the new MoU states that the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) shall ensure minimum standards set by the Philippine government, such as free accommodation, are met by granting POEA the authority to review contract offers of employers. The MOU likewise minimizes pre-departure cancellation of employment contracts and pre-termination of existing ones by disqualifying employers as well as workers with derogatory records.

In addition, Filipino workers will continue to enjoy pension coverage pursuant to the National Pension Law and shall be entitled to equal treatment with Korean workers, including minimum wage and insurance protection.

Other government-to-government agreements that were signed during the two-day official visit of President Arroyo to South Korea include the MoU on Labor and Manpower Development Cooperation, Notes on the Grant Aid for Rice Processing Complexes (RPCs), MoU on the Feasibility Study on the Multi-Industry Cluster (MIC) Programme, and MoU on Agricultural Scientific and Technical Cooperation.

Trabaho.com. thanks its following sources:

DOLE Philippine Labor Overseas Office-Korea. RP, Korea Labor execs renew MOU on EPS. (Posted June 8, 2009) Retrieved June 9, 2009 from
http://www.dole.gov.ph/news/details.asp?id=N000002339

Jaymalin, Mayen, Philstar.com. DOLE: More decent, high-paying jobs await Pinoys abroad (Posted June 9, 2009) Retrieved June 9, 2009 from
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=475885&publicationSubCategoryId=205

Philippine News Agecny. DoLE renews employment ties with South Korea. (Posted June 8, 2009) Retrieved June 9, 2009 from
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=0&nid=1&rid=209823

Inquirer.net. 5,000 OFWs to Korea in 10 months (Posted June 8, 2009) Retrieved June 9, 2009 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090608-209418/5000-OFWs-to-Korea-in-10-months

Positive News Media. RP-ROK sign MOU on employment permit system(Posted June 2, 2009) Retrieved June 9, 2009 from
http://www.positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Main_News_1/RP-ROK_sign_MOU_on_employment_permit_system.shtml

Philippine Daily Inquirer. RP, Korea to sign 10 trade, labor deals. (Posted May 29, 2009) Retrieved June 9, 2009 from
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20090529-207837/RP-Korea-to-sign-10-trade-labor-deals
Reposted by Asia News Network at
http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?id=6029&sec=1