MANILA – The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is seeking to have a joint circular with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to better protect Filipino seasonal farm workers in South Korea.

Thia after the DMW received some 40 complaints from seasonal farm workers deployed under the arrangements made between local government units (LGUs) of South Korea and the Philippines, DMW Officer-In-Charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in an online press briefing on Friday.

Cacdac noted that the complainants have proper working visas in South Korea but did not go through the DMW process.

Among the complaints received by the DMW include labor-related issues such as working conditions on site, and non-payment of salaries, among others.

Cacdac assured that the cases are being handled by the Migrant Workers Office in South Korea.

He said the DMW is now in talks with the DILG led by Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. to come up with the joint circular on the deployment of Filipino seasonal workers to guarantee better protection of OFWs, as well as prevent any possible exploitation and abuses of Filipino migrant workers.

“So ang gusto sana natin mangyari, magkaroon ng (What we want is to have) a joint DILG and DMW circular on this matter. The bottom line here is gusto natin yung (we want the) seasonal farm workers in Korea dumaan sa DMW (to pass through the DMW). Of course we’re not constraining the respective LGUs to talk to their counterparts in Korea, however ang gusto sana natin ay ma-process sila sa(what we want is to have them process at the) DMW thereafter,” Cacdac said.

He said it would help if the OFWs were documented by the DMW so they could better monitor their situation.

“And just as important, mas matataguyod natin yung kontrata nila (we can better support their contract) that would be processed by the DMW, certified and verified by our Migrant Workers Office at post. Government functionaries will greater responsibility, whether it’s the local government or the national government, such as the DMW and the DILG. OFWs would be more closely monitored,” Cacdac said. (PNA)