Appeal of the Filipino Workers and Korean Employers

under the Employment Permit System (EPS)

and the Filipino Organizations in Korea

06 March 2011

Mr. Jung, Bong Su
Assistant Director
Ministry of Employment and Labor
Foreign Workforce Policy Division

Dear Mr. Jung:

We, the undersigned, Filipino workers and Korean employers under the Employment Permit System (EPS), and members of Filipino organizations in Korea, appeal to the office of the Foreign Workforce Policy Division of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) for kind assistance so that measures that facilitate orderly re-entry of foreign workers, who have finished 6 years or 4 years and ten (10) months period of stay in Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) may be implemented.

We fully acknowledge that the Act on Foreign Workers’ Employment and its amendments brought forth greater benefits to the foreign workers.  However, we also believe that the current system for hiring foreign workers needs to include a procedure that is more suitable for workers seeking reemployment in Korea after the completion of their legal stay under the EPS.

We, further, believe that some of the current requirements for employment in Korea may not be necessary for a foreign worker, who has legally worked in Korea for 5 or 6 years; who already learned Korean language and culture; who have developed and mastered working skills in Korean factories and industries, and who have gained the trust of their Korean employers.  Strict age requirement and the normally long procedure of application for this group of workers would entail a great loss for the Korean small and medium size businesses.

We, therefore, respectfully appeal that the current implementing regulations of the Act on Foreign Workers’ Employment be reviewed so that an Upgraded Procedure and Set of Requirements may be applied to the above-mentioned type of foreign workers who are seeking reemployment in Korea.

In view of the foregoing, we humbly submit the following specific propositions: Foreign workers who have completed a full sojourn of six years, or four years and ten months as the case may be, will be exempted from taking the EPS- Test on Proficiency in Korean; exempted from the age ceiling requirement; must submit a certificate of re-employment and/or letter of recommendation from the last employer; and a medical certification.

Finally, your Honourable Office may also consider the reduction of the waiting or lay-off period from six months to one month, following the previous regulation on the mater, as such; re-employment shall not take place until after the lapse of one month from the date of the worker's last departure from Korea. 

We, the undersigned, firmly believe that the Korean government remains vigilant in responding to appeals for improvement to further strengthen the Employment Permit System.

Signed by:

Appeal of the Filipino Workers and Korean Employers under the Employment Permit System (EPS) and the Filipino Organizations in Korea

Name of Workers                               Location (City/Province)                    Signature

Appeal of the Filipino Workers and Korean Employers under the Employment Permit System (EPS) and the Filipino Organizations in Korea

Name of Employers                           Name of the Company                       Signature
                                                            & Business Permit No.