Foreign housekeepers participating in the pilot project for foreign housekeepers arriving at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 by bus after their arrival on the morning of August 6. Yonhap News
Two Filipino housekeepers who arrived in Korea to participate in the pilot project for foreign housekeepers, but left their accommodations without permission, have returned to their home country.
According to the Ministry of Justice on the 14th, the two Filipino housekeepers were forcibly deported to the Philippines on the 10th. As a result, they are restricted from re-entering Korea for a certain period according to related laws.
An official from the Ministry of Justice stated, “We understand that the two housekeepers returned to their home country voluntarily,” and “They did not file any objections.”
They arrived in Korea on August 6 to participate in the pilot project for foreign housekeepers conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor. After receiving 160 hours of job training, Korean language lessons, etc., they started their duties on October 3.
However, during the Chuseok holiday, they left their accommodations on the 15th and did not return. The service provider was informed by the group leader of a group of 10 housekeepers that two of them could not be contacted. After confirming their departure on the afternoon of the 15th through closed-circuit television (CCTV), they notified the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
According to current laws, employers of E-9 visa foreign workers are required to report any unauthorized absence of more than 5 business days to the relevant Employment and Labor Office. The employer confirmed their non-return by the final deadline and reported the unauthorized departure to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 26th of the same month.
Subsequently, the Immigration Special Investigation Division of the Busan Immigration Office, in collaboration with the police, tracked down their whereabouts. They confirmed that the two were illegally employed in Busan and secured them from their accommodation on the 4th of this month.
The exact reason for their unauthorized departure has not been disclosed. However, the Seoul city government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have prepared improvement measures for the project, including shortening the pay period, minimizing travel distances and time, and abolishing the 10 pm return confirmation.