The Ministry of Employment and Labor noted on the 17th regarding the expansion of the pilot project for foreign household helpers that "there are difficulties if there is no plan to reduce the expense of household helpers."
Han Eun-sook, head of the foreign workforce division at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, said at the "Foreign Household Helper Meeting" held at KT&G Sangsang Planet, "There are parts where it is difficult to fully realize the original perception and purpose of alleviating the expense burden of care with the pilot project for foreign household helpers."
Officials from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Seoul city government, Filipino caregivers, and representatives of foreign household helper service companies attended the meeting.
The pilot project for foreign household helpers started in September of last year. It aims to allow the use of foreign household helpers at a low price. However, contrary to this aim, there has been controversy over high expenses. As of this year, it is necessary to pay 16,800 won per hour to household helpers. If one uses them for 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, they would have to pay around 2.9 million won per month.
There have been criticisms that such expense issues will make the foreign household helper project a policy only for the wealthy.
On the other hand, the Seoul city government, which is conducting the pilot project with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, is in a position to continue the project. Kim Seon-sun, head of the Seoul city Family and Gender Equality Office, said, "There is a government policy that supports the expense of child caregivers for low-income households" and added, "If this support can also be received when using foreign household helpers, there is no problem (with expenses) at all." According to this system, expense support can be received ranging from 15% to 80% based on income criteria.
The government extended the pilot project for foreign household helpers, which was scheduled to end at the end of February this year, by one year. Currently, 86 Filipino caregivers are working in 143 households.