DOLE drawing up list of undocumented OFWs in Korea

As the tension in Korea is still high, Philippine labor officials are drawing up a list of undocumented Filipino workers there who may need assistance if the situation worsens.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said they have coordinated with the Filipino community in Korea to locate these undocumented workers, radio dzBB’s Carlo Mateo reported Friday.

According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), there are 50,000 to 60,000 Filipino workers in Korea, Baldoz said.

On Thursday, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. had said their records as of December 2009 show there are 50,270 Filipinos in Korea.

Tension in Korea is expected to rise further this weekend when the United States and South Korea engage in joint military exercises.

The exercises stemmed from North Korea’s artillery attack on South Korea earlier this week.

P25-M fund for OFWs in Korea

On Thursday, Baldoz said labor officials have readied P25 million for overseas Filipino workers based in South Korea in case of any contingency.

She said her department also ready to augment the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and welfare office personnel if needed.

“The (Overseas Workers Welfare Administration) Board of Trustees has initially set aside P25 million ready to be used for any contingency involving our OFWs in South Korea," she said in a statement posted on the DOLE website on Thursday.

Baldoz added that the DOLE is also ready to augment POLO and welfare office personnel in Seoul if there is a need.

Baldoz reassured the OFWs’ families their loved ones are “safe and all right" amid news of the skirmish between North and South Korea military forces.

Baldoz said the POLO in Seoul headed by Labor Attaché Felicitas Bay has reported the Philippine Embassy is coordinating with Filipino community leaders.

“As members of the Crisis Management Team under the Contingency Plan, our POLO and welfare officers are closely working with and following the lead of the Philippine embassy in this regard. The DOLE, through the International Labor Affairs Bureau, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, is closely monitoring the situation," she said. – VVP, GMANews.TV

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