1st batch of seasonal farm workers head for SKorea

THE first batch of seasonal farm workers bound for South Korea was successfully deployed on Thursday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Friday.

All the 39 workers came from the towns of Apalit, Lubao and Magalang in Pampanga.

The DMW said that their departure was accomplished in collaboration with the department’s Regional Office 3, their local town governments along with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Clark International Airport (CIA).

Also, the DMW said that the workers completed the mandatory Pre-departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) and were given their Special Exit Clearance for their flight to South Korea.

They are the first batch of seasonal farm workers dismissed by the DMW under the “Interim Pipeline Processing” procedure that aims to provide provisions and guarantees for the rights and welfare of workers included in the Seasonal Work Program (SWP) of local government units (LGUs) of the Philippines.

On the other hand, DMW reminds seasonal farm workers who wish to undergo the SWP that there is no recruitment fee to be charged to them.

“If anyone has charged them the said recruitment fee, report it immediately to the DMW-Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (DMW-MWPB) through their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dmwairtip,” the agency said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the DMW said it expects more batches of seasonal farm workers who will be sent to South Korea with additional protection of their rights such as a contract, proper living and working conditions in their place of work, insurance and welfare coverage as members of Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).