Employment Permit System (EPS) continues

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration yesterday
clarified erroneous reports that the deployment of Filipino workers to
Korea through the Employment Permit System (EPS) has stopped due
to irregularities in the system.

Administrator Jennifer J. Manalili said that the EPS continues and to
date, 20,799 workers have been deployed. The memorandum of
understanding (MOU) covering the EPS which expires on October 20,
2008 is also under negotiation for renewal.

“There are no irregularities in the conduct of EPS in the Philippines. In
fact, Korea considers the POEA‐DOLE implementation of the program
as best practice among other participating countries,” Manalili said.
At present, the Philippines cannot replenish its labor quota of 11,000
for 2008 due to lack of workers who have already passed the Korean
Language Test (KLT).

A new service commitment agreement (SCA) between the new test
agency and HRD Korea which is needed before a new KLT can be
conducted in the Philippines is still being finalized. The KLT was last
held in the country in May 2007.