Nine seasonal workers who came to Korea from the Philippines suffered wage exploitation and human rights violations and were ultimately determined by the government to be victims of human trafficking. The seasonal worker program, introduced to ease labor shortages during the busy farming season, is repeatedly producing victims as illegal brokers and some farm owners exploit it.
According to a compilation of reporting by ChosunBiz on the 28th, the Central Support Center for the Rights of Victims of Human Trafficking under the Minister of Gender Equality and Family (Women's Human Rights Institute of Korea) held a case review committee meeting on the 19th and decided to issue "victim confirmation" documents to nine Philippine national seasonal workers. The Philippine Embassy in Korea also recently met them in person and heard their accounts, according to reports.
They worked at farms in Anseong, Gyeonggi; Haenam, South Jeolla; Seosan, South Chungcheong; and elsewhere. They worked more than 12 hours a day, but most of their monthly pay went to the brokers. The brokers had them sign lend agreements with a monthly interest rate of 5% and then took the money by automatically deducting it from their wages. The amount listed in the lend agreement was 50,000 pesos (about 1.25 million won), but the actual deduction was 2.25 million won, inflated to nearly double. One victim said, "After working all month, I only had 50,000 won in hand."
Another victim worked from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., but no overtime pay was provided. Of the first month's salary of 1.77 million won, 1.5 million won (85%) went to the broker, leaving an actual take-home pay of 270,000 won.
Verbal abuse and insults from employers (farm owners) were routine, and they felt heavy pressure as they were arbitrarily sent to work at multiple farms. They were made to take on not only farm work but also roof repairs and concrete pouring.
However, as soon as they arrived in Korea, their passports were taken by the brokers, and employers held their alien registration cards and other documents, leaving them with no effective way to respond. When they mustered the courage to protest, threats followed, asking, "Do you want to go back to the Philippines?"
With the victim determination by the Central Support Center for the Rights of Victims of Human Trafficking, they became eligible to receive living expenses of about 700,000 won per month for three months. After a review committee, the support period can be extended to up to six months. They can also apply for legal, medical, and repatriation support.
However, the victim confirmation document has no civil or criminal legal effect. It means punishment or damages against illegal brokers and employers who engaged in unfair acts must be proven through separate legal procedures. Given that seasonal workers on short-term stays find it practically difficult to wage long lawsuits, there are calls for institutional improvements.
Although the Anti–Human Trafficking Act took effect on Jan. 1, 2023, with plans to set up regional human trafficking victim rights protection agencies and build a "one-stop support system," no real first step has been taken even as it approaches three years. None of the 17 metropolitan and provincial governments nationwide has established a human trafficking victim rights protection agency. Related funding was not included in the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's budget plan for 2026.
The exploitation of seasonal workers is recurring. In response, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines on the 5th suspended the deployment of seasonal workers to Korea from 15 regions where illegal broker transactions were uncovered. (☞ [Exclusive] Philippines halts sending seasonal workers to Korea… "Illegal broker problem")
President Lee Jae-myung directly raised the issue of unpaid wages for foreign workers at a Cabinet meeting in Sep., saying it was "bringing shame on the nation."
The seasonal worker program is a system that allows employers to hire foreign workers for five months to ease labor shortages in rural areas during harvest season. At the employer's discretion, it can be extended by up to three months. Since the program's introduction, more than 10,000 seasonal workers from the Philippines alone have come to Korea to work.