Work experience certificates for foreigners go online

People who have spent time working in Korea will now have easy access to their work experience certificates online.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, foreign workers can download their work experience certificate at www.eps.go.kr site.

Until now, workers who wanted to obtain their certificates had to request them in person in Korea. As a result of the inconvenience, few people applied for it.

“This website will help foreign workers in obtaining work experience certificates in their own country and help them find work at home,” said Lee Jae-Gap, director of the International Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

By Oh Jun Kyung
Korea.net Staff Writer

Applications for reemployment of foreign workers to H2 Visa

Working Visit system to be operational starting March 4th of this year

In light of the fact that Koreans with foreign nationality have been relatively neglected when it comes to immigration and employment privileges, the Ministry of Justice have decided to operate the Working Visit system., starting this March 4th.

The Working Visit (H-2) is a transitional status, which is to be given to Koreans in China and former Soviet territories before they are given the Overseas Korean (F-4) status. It can be obtained if the applicants are over 25 years old and meet certain qualification. Basically, it is a multiple entry visa that remains valid for 5 years and allows up to 3 years of stay per visit. With it, they can freely enter and depart the country and also seek employment if they wish. It was designed to help them acquire advanced job skills and financial basis, which we hope will help them when they go back to their country of residence.

Currently, there is Family Visit (F-1-4) status which does something similar, but it is only given to those that have relatives living in Korea, and only allows for very limited employment opportunities. The Working Visit (H-2) is much more versatile in that it can be given to those that dont have any relatives in Korea, and it allows the applicant to be employed in 32 different types of jobs (increased from the current 19), including fish hatchery and furniture wholesale.

However, in order to prevent the local employment market from being essentially overrun by sudden increase of foreign workers, a yearly quota will be placed (by the Foreign Human Resource Policies Committee) to those that dont have any domestic relatives. In addition, these people will be tested for Korean proficiency to ensure that the selection is fair and unbiased. Selection details will be posted on the local Korean consulate web pages early next year.

If an Working Visit (H-2) status holding foreigners were to apply for a job, their employment procedure and employers recruitment procedures will be as follows (in accordance with the recently passed Law on recruitment of foreign labor passed on Jan. 3rd, 2007, and placed into effect from March 4th, 2007)

- Overseas Koreans that entered with Working Visit(H-2) visa must go through Ministry of Labors employment training, and then apply for employment. After that they can seek employment on their own, or have one suggested to them by the Employment Service Center. They can only be employed in places that have special recruitment permits, and can change their workplace after submitting notification of the change.

※ Traditionally, they had to receive a permit for status change, and could only work in places that were recommended by the Employment Service Center. In addition, they had to receive permits, every time they had to change their workplace.

- If a local employer would like to hire an overseas Korean, they must obtain a special recruitment permit from the Ministry of Justice (valid for 3 years), and recruit overseas Koreans from the Employment Service Centers list of potential employees.

※ Traditionally, they had to go through the same procedures as hiring a normal foreign labor, and had to receive a permit for every foreign employee that they hire.

Also, the Working Visit(H-2) visa allows its holders to be exempt from re-entry permit if they have to leave the country for whatever reason. Also, as mentioned above, they can seek employment or change their workplace by submitting a notification of such events.

※ Traditionally, if overseas Koreans were to seek employment, they had to change their status to Non-Professional Employment (E-9), and had to apply for re-entry permit every time they had to leave the country.

Also, revision to Immigration Law Enforcement Ordinance and Immigration Law Enforcement Regulation, which defines key elements and execution process of the Working Visit(H-2) system, is currently being reviewed by the Office of Legislation.

Ministry of Justice said that if this Working Visit system were to stay, it would provide great opportunities for mutually beneficial development of all involved parties. Also, it would strengthen the emotional ties between those of Korean descent and form the foundation of a a global network of Korean collective, which we can all benefit from in this Information Age that we live in.


( http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/NtcCotnDetailR_en.pt
bbsGbCd=BS10&bbsSeq=4&ntccttSeq=9&langCd=EN)


Mga kabayan ito ay paglilinaw na ang mga nakatapos ng 3 years contract ay pwdeng mabigyan ng extension ng H2 visa ayon sa nasabing policy na

"The Working Visit (H-2) is a transitional status, which is to be given to Koreans in China and former Soviet territories before they are given the Overseas Korean (F-4) status."

source: sulyapinoy

Education rights of migrants' children will be advocated By Lee Hyo-sik

The government will make it easier for the children of migrant workers to make the best use of the nation‘s public school system by providing information on lectures and other school-related matters in multiple mother tongues.

Even if migrant workers are caught by immigration officials for overstaying their visas and other irregularities, their children will still be allowed to finish the school term, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said Monday.
―We are glad to announce that the government has decided to introduce these and
other measures we recommended in December last year to better protect the educational rights
of children of migrant workers. We will continue to keep an eye on how such steps are
implemented,‖ the commission said.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will set up a Korean language
program for students of migrant workers at public schools, as well as provide information
on a range of school activities in their first language, it said.
The ministry will also expand an educational program on multiculturalism for Korean students and make more efforts to prevent children of foreign workers from dropping out of school.
The justice ministry plans not to deport illegal aliens until their children finish the relevant semester or academic year. It also said teachers and other government workers will no
longer be required to notify immigration authorities immediately when discovering
illegal aliens.
―In reality, the children of migrant workers do not benefit much from the country‘s
education system because of the language barrier and other difficulties. Additionally, if their parents are illegal aliens, they don‘t dare to go to school and are mostly neglected. But the
situation will improve for them,‖ the spokeswoman said.
She said the justice ministry will revise the Immigration Act to reflect such changes, adding
that the two ministries‘ posture marks a significant step-forward toward better protecting human rights of migrant workers and their family members.
leehs@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/
nation/2011/06/113_89731.html

Foreign students key to successful globalization of Seoul By Kim Young-jin

Foreign students will play a key role in shaping Seoul into a global city where all cul tures l ive comfortably together, representatives of an international student forum said. The assessment came out last Friday when some one hundred international students kicked off a summer-long program organized by Seoul City aimed at forging policy suggestions for the metropolitan government.

This forum will serve as a conduit for foreigners to express their grievances without fear or favor,‖ said Kaymi Ng, a Malaysian serving as president of the forum, on the sidelines of its opening event in southern Seoul.
―We will channel the problems to the relevant parties so they can be addressed as soon as
possible. At the end of the day, Seoul needs to be globalized and this is a good way for that to
happen,‖ said the 31-year-old law student at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. Tens of thousands of international students currently reside in Korea and are considered a key part of the nation‘s effort to become more globally-oriented.
The Seoul International Student Forum, now in its fourth year, aims to harness student
creativity to brainstorm new ideas to improve the city‘s conditions for foreign and Korean
residents. At the conclusion, a panel will award distinctions to the best proposals which are then
relayed to local officials.
Past suggestions have helped the city improve its multilingual signs in the transportation
system and provide better information regarding dietary choice, which often poses problems for
those with religious or cultural restrictions.
Affan Alkindi Rahman, a 23-year-old Indonesian and vice president of the forum,
anticipated dietary concerns would be a focus this year as well. As a Muslim, he knows all too
well how difficult it can be to find meat prepared in his religious tradition.
―Most of my friends don‘t eat meat here because it is not ‗Halal,‘‖ Rhaman, who studies
Korean language at Yonsei University, said.
―Some buy food from Itaewon. But for us in the dormitories, it‘s very hard to cook.‖
The students said they would push for measures to increase the number of Halal
restaurants given a recent influx of students from the Middle East and Muslim countries.
Other areas of concern, they said, included health, hygiene, the immigration system and
education.
The students agreed that the program would also give them a chance to network and
experience a truly multicultural setting including over 30 different nationalities while
becoming well-versed in local government.
Alan Timblick, head of the Seoul Global Center, the government body that organized the
program, said the students‘ participation impacted the entire society.
―Students have always been an important part of Korean life, whether it‘s political or social
life,‖ he said.
―Today, a significant proportion of them are represented by non-Koreans.
―In fact, we expect to see more and more come to Korea; it‘s part of the globalization
process. The city of Seoul is becoming more active in seeking new ideas from foreign
residents and students are probably the most creative in that group.‖
For Irina Simeonova, a Bulgarian studying at Korea University and a vice president of the
forum, the effort boiled down to that one desire so communal to university students worldwide
– the ability to affect positive change.
―I hope we can gain a sense of hope to be empowered to change some things in our lives
here,‖ said. ―Even though we are far away from home perhaps we could feel at home.‖

Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/
special/2011/06/139_89805.html

Franchise opportunities abound in PHL for OFWs

One of the country's successful entrepreneurs, Rommel Juan, owner of the Binalot Chain of restaurants, has an advice for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs): take advantage of franchise opportu-nities in the Philippines.

"Franchising is a good option for OFWs so that they are sure that they are investing their hard earned money on a working and proven business concept," Juan said in an email to GMA News Online.
"Franchises have a higher percentage of success than start-up con-cepts. This is because there is already a fixed system, the brand is estab-lished and expertise already exists. Franchising is working for yourself but not by yourself," he added.
Juan was a former president of the Association of Filipino Franchis-ers, Inc. (AFFI), a non-stock, non-profit national organization of Filipino entrepreneurs and business professionals, duly registered with the Secu-rities and Exchange Commission.
According to its website, it "was formed in 1997 by a pioneering group of men and women who recognized the potential for business expansion through franchising."
Juan said, "I was very active (with AFFI) for about 8 years the last 2 years of which I served as President. My term ended in 2009. But I still support their advocacy to promote SME Entrepreneurs and franchising."
Varied franchise packages
Juan said a wide variety of franchise opportunities is available for OFWs.
Juan said, "There are many franchise opportunities for OFWs. AFFI has packages for almost all budgets starting from P300,000 to P2 million to P5 million," from carts to stalls to full set up dine in restaurants. They also have a lot of non-food concepts."
"Food has always been the best bet for franchising. At the end of the day the profitability of the franchise is not dictated by solely by the brand name or the type of industry," he explained.
Through franchising, the money earned by the OFWs abroad can grow instead of becoming depleted.
"Sometimes sad to say, OFWs tend to send money to relatives and the money goes to waste. The relatives do not work and squander the money once it arrives. The OFW slaves overseas but once he returns, there is no money, no investment to speak of," Juan said.
"If the OFW decides to get a a franchise , at least he is investing in a running business which has a potential to grow and prosper," he added.
Juan warned, though, that no one can be 100 percent sure that they will be successful when they go into franchising.
"Of course it's still a business and success is never 100%, especially now that the market is flooded by many other concepts. However, if they find a good location and train the right people, the success rate is so much higher," he said.
Managing the franchise
Being abroad, OFWs cannot look after their franchise investments and would sometimes have to ask for a relative's help in managing the fran-chise.
"Sometimes the OFW requires a relative to manage the franchise, at Binalot we have nothing against this. However we have to make sure that the relative has the commitment, dedication, drive and competence to do so," Juan said.
"We have had some experiences that the relative found it irritating that now they have to work instead of just receiving the money from abroad like before," he said.
To solve this problem, some companies like Binalot offer "company supervision" schemes where the head office supervises the store for the OFW franchisee.
"We just give monthly reports and the franchisee no longer has to worry about day to day operations. The Binalot head office takes care of that," Juan said.
Popular franchises
When asked what he thought the top five franchises were that are under P500,000, Juan said, "My top of mind would be Lotsa Pizza, Plato wraps, Bibingkinitan, Peanut world, Chicharific and RBX rice in a box (not in any particular order)."
For franchises that are between P500,001 to above P1 million, "My top of mind would be Binalot, Aquabest, Royal Carribean Jamaican Patties, Gotoking and Seaoil."
For those who may be interested, a wealth of information is available on the web. People can do research on companies they are interested in.
Juan advises OFWs, "Choose your franchise well. Do your home-work. Interview existing franchisees to find out if the are really profit-able, check out their existing stores to see if they have happy customers. Consider having the franchisor manage the franchise store for you if you cannot handle it yourself." - Jesse Edep, Veronica Pulumbarit, GMA News

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/225700/pinoy-abroad/franchise-opportunities-abound-in-phl-for-ofws

Long-term foreign residents fingerprints to be collected By Park Si-soo

From today, foreign nationals aged over 17 who enter South Korea for a stay of more than 91 days will have their fingerprints scanned at immigration offices in line with a new law, the Ministry of Justice said Thursday.
Those who have already lived here for more than three months will be required to present the biometric information to the authorities from January next year, the ministry said.
Collected fingerprints will be used to identify those involved in crimes or accidents, it said.
This is the first collection of fingerprints of long-staying foreigner nationals in nearly eight years, following its abolishment in 2003 over human rights concerns. The revised Immigration Act that justifies the collection was passed in May last year.
―The primary purpose of the collection is to identify foreigners involved in crimes or accidents,‖ said Ahn Gyu-seok, an official at the Korea Immigration Service. ―Every process to record fingerprints is set to be completed within one or two minutes to minimize waiting time.‖
The ministry forecasts more than 200,000 fingerprints will be collected by later this year.
Nearly 1.18 million foreigners were reported to have lived here for more than 90 days last year, up 6.8 percent from 2009, according to Statistics Korea.
This is the second step in the ministry‘s three-phase move. In the first step, taken in September last year, the ministry collected fingerprints of foreigners with a criminal record.
In the third and final step, which will take effect in January, all foreign visitors will be required to have their two forefingers scanned and their face photographed at immigration checkpoints at international airports and ports.
pss@koreatimes.co.kr

Source: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/07/117_89960.html

Period for applications for reemployment of foreign workers largely extended

Any employer who wants to reemploy his/her foreign worker will be allowed to apply for reemployment just seven days before end of the employment period.

On July 5, the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) amended the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Foreign Workers' Employment etc., which contains this feature.

The reemployment system is a system under which if an employer applies for the reemployment of a foreign worker who entered Korea under the Employment Permit System before expiration of the three-year employment period, the employment period can be extended by less than two years.

So far an employer has been required to apply for reemployment at least 45 days (or 15 days in case where the foreign worker has been employed with the employer for three months or longer before the expiration date) before the expiration date. As a result, workplaces have frequently missed their reemployment application deadlines.

In addition, if a workplace misses its application deadline, it cannot reemploy the foreign worker, and the foreign worker should return to his/her home country.

However, henceforth, an employer will be allowed to apply for reemployment just seven days before expiration of the employment period.

Yet if an employer is to request the reemployment of his/her foreign worker, the foreign worker should be employed with the employer for at least one month before expiration of the employment period.

Allowing the employer who has employed the foreign worker for at least a certain period to apply for his/her reemployment will be compatible with the purpose of the reemployment system.

If a foreign worker does not get any assurance of reemployment from his/her current employer despite that the expiration date of the employment period draws near, a broker often approaches the foreign worker and arranges for another work place to request his/her reemploymnet. the amendment is intended to prevent such problem.

Besides, the amendment includes reducing the required hours of employment education for foreign workers from 20 hours or more to 16 hours or more.

And the scope of workers for which agencies can make applications for employment permits on behalf of employers will be extended to ethnic Koreans of a foreign nationality (H-2 visa holders). Up until now it has been limited to foreign workers (E-9 visa holders).

Lee Jae-gap, Deputy Minister of the Employment Policy Office, said, "The amendment actively reflects demands from workplaces and is expected to largely reduce difficulties resulting from missing a reemployment application deadline and block brokers' intervention in the reemployment process."



The amended Enforcement Regulations will go into effect on August 1.

(http://www.moel.go.kr/english/topic/employment_policy_view.jsp?&idx=823)




Mga Kabayan ito po ay paglilinaw na ang ihahayag na new policy para sa August , 2011 ay

-->The reemployment system is a system under which if an employer applies for the reemployment of a foreign worker who entered Korea under the Employment Permit System before expiration of the three-year employment period, the employment period can be extended by less than two years, as the the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) amended the Enforcement Regulations of the Act on Foreign Workers' Employment etc. as amended last July 5.

Applications for reemployment of foreign workers to H2 Visa.

Working Visit system to be operational starting March 4th of this year

In light of the fact that Koreans with foreign nationality have been relatively neglected when it comes to immigration and employment privileges, the Ministry of Justice have decided to operate the Working Visit system., starting this March 4th.

The Working Visit (H-2) is a transitional status, which is to be given to Koreans in China and former Soviet territories before they are given the Overseas Korean (F-4) status. It can be obtained if the applicants are over 25 years old and meet certain qualification. Basically, it is a multiple entry visa that remains valid for 5 years and allows up to 3 years of stay per visit. With it, they can freely enter and depart the country and also seek employment if they wish. It was designed to help them acquire advanced job skills and financial basis, which we hope will help them when they go back to their country of residence.

Currently, there is Family Visit (F-1-4) status which does something similar, but it is only given to those that have relatives living in Korea, and only allows for very limited employment opportunities. The Working Visit (H-2) is much more versatile in that it can be given to those that dont have any relatives in Korea, and it allows the applicant to be employed in 32 different types of jobs (increased from the current 19), including fish hatchery and furniture wholesale.

However, in order to prevent the local employment market from being essentially overrun by sudden increase of foreign workers, a yearly quota will be placed (by the Foreign Human Resource Policies Committee) to those that dont have any domestic relatives. In addition, these people will be tested for Korean proficiency to ensure that the selection is fair and unbiased. Selection details will be posted on the local Korean consulate web pages early next year.

If an Working Visit (H-2) status holding foreigners were to apply for a job, their employment procedure and employers recruitment procedures will be as follows (in accordance with the recently passed Law on recruitment of foreign labor passed on Jan. 3rd, 2007, and placed into effect from March 4th, 2007)

- Overseas Koreans that entered with Working Visit(H-2) visa must go through Ministry of Labors employment training, and then apply for employment. After that they can seek employment on their own, or have one suggested to them by the Employment Service Center. They can only be employed in places that have special recruitment permits, and can change their workplace after submitting notification of the change.

※ Traditionally, they had to receive a permit for status change, and could only work in places that were recommended by the Employment Service Center. In addition, they had to receive permits, every time they had to change their workplace.

- If a local employer would like to hire an overseas Korean, they must obtain a special recruitment permit from the Ministry of Justice (valid for 3 years), and recruit overseas Koreans from the Employment Service Centers list of potential employees.

※ Traditionally, they had to go through the same procedures as hiring a normal foreign labor, and had to receive a permit for every foreign employee that they hire.

Also, the Working Visit(H-2) visa allows its holders to be exempt from re-entry permit if they have to leave the country for whatever reason. Also, as mentioned above, they can seek employment or change their workplace by submitting a notification of such events.

※ Traditionally, if overseas Koreans were to seek employment, they had to change their status to Non-Professional Employment (E-9), and had to apply for re-entry permit every time they had to leave the country.

Also, revision to Immigration Law Enforcement Ordinance and Immigration Law Enforcement Regulation, which defines key elements and execution process of the Working Visit(H-2) system, is currently being reviewed by the Office of Legislation.

Ministry of Justice said that if this Working Visit system were to stay, it would provide great opportunities for mutually beneficial development of all involved parties. Also, it would strengthen the emotional ties between those of Korean descent and form the foundation of a a global network of Korean collective, which we can all benefit from in this Information Age that we live in.


( http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/NtcCotnDetailR_en.pt
bbsGbCd=BS10&bbsSeq=4&ntccttSeq=9&langCd=EN)


Mga kabayan ito ay paglilinaw na ang mga nakatapos ng 3 years contract ay pwdeng mabigyan ng extension ng H2 visa ayon sa nasabing policy na

"The Working Visit (H-2) is a transitional status, which is to be given to Koreans in China and former Soviet territories before they are given the Overseas Korean (F-4) status."

VOTE FOR Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) as One of the New Seven Wonders of Nature (NSWN)

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park is located about 50 km. north of the City of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to be the world’s longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by ancient trees growing right to the water’s edge. Monkeys, large monitor lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.

Three ways to vote for PPUR:

1. Vote via the N7WN Website: http://www.new7wonders.com/

Internet voting is allowed per-email address.

a. Click on the PPUR as your NSWN candidate

b. Register your email account

c. Send your vote

2. Vote via Text Message:

Each SMS sent counts as one vote for the Puerto Princesa Underground River in the Official New 7 Wonders of Nature. Simply text PPUR to 001-1588-7715

3. Vote by Telephone:

You can vote using the new international telephone voting line, available 24 hours a day, for you to call and vote any time, from any international telephone line anywhere in the world.

a. Dial one of these international telephone numbers:

+23 9220-1055

+1 869-760-5990

+1 649-339-8080

+44 758-900-1290

b. At the end of the message, after the tone, dial PPUR’s 4 digit code 7723

c. When you hear the thank you message, you are all done- you have voted by telephone.

Live Stream- Novena in Baclaran

Para po sa lahat ng ating mga kapatid na nagnanais na makapag novena ngunit sila ay nasa labas ng Pilipinas o dili kaya nasa mga liblib na lugar na hindi naaabot ng simbahang katolika o sa kung anumang kadahilanan. Maaari na pong mapanood at makisalo na rin sa banal na pagdiriwang na ito sa pamamagitan ng novena streaming online. Video streaming resumes every Wednesday, during the novena hours. Kindly click this link to watch the novena in Baclaran live stream.
http://www.sambayanan.org/novenainbaclaranlivestream.php

Mga Labor Standards at EPS Updates kung saan nilabas ang 40 hours working schedule

Labor Standards dated 2010-12-10

Topic on 40 hour workweek system to apply further to workplaces with 5 ~19 workers

Work hours to be reduced to improve productivity and quality of life. Starting from 1st July 2011, 40-hour workweek will be further extended to apply to workplaces hiring 5 or more but less than 20 employees. The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on 5 October 2010 its plan to revise the enforcement ordinance of the Labor Standards Act. 40-hour workweek has been under implementation since 1st July 2004 firstly applying to workplaces hiring 1,000 or more employees as well as finance and insurance businesses and public institutions. It has gradually expanded its coverage and currently it applies to workplaces with 20 or more employees. It was introduced to reduce statutory work hours from 44 to 40 in a view to enhance quality life of workers.

Upon the revision of the enforcement ordinance, around 2 million workers of 300,000 workplaces hiring 5 or more but less than 20 employees will be covered by the workweek. However, it will not apply to workplaces with less than 5 employees as work hour and leave-related regulations of the Labor Standards Act are not applicable for them.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor estimates when the 40-hour workweek system is applied to the workplaces hiring 5 or more but less than 20 employees, Korea�s work hours, which are the longest among the OECD countries, would decrease substantially. Also it expects that productivity at workplaces and quality life of workers would improve.
As for the worry for additional labor costs for small businesses, the Ministry expects that decrease in additional allowance for overtime1, repeal of monthly leave and paid menstrual leave would deflate the burden for additional labor costs.

On the other hand, the Ministry considers that for the businesses hiring less than 20 employees can suffer difficulties in introducing the 40-hour workweek system as they are not familiar with related labor laws. So, it will hold education, PR and consulting programs in cooperation with business owners of targeted areas with many applicable workplaces so that the system can take firm root.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPS News dated last 2010-12-05

Topic In case of Saturday work under 40 hour work week system, holiday work allowance

ㅇ In case workers do not work on Saturday under the five-day workweek in which statutory working hours are reduced to 40 hours per week, Saturday is naturally considered a holiday or non-working day. In this case, Saturday is an unpaid, non-working day unless otherwise agreed upon by labor and management.
In such a case, if the employer gets his/her employee to work on Saturday, the employee will not be paid holiday allowances, but if his/her weekly working hours exceed 40 hours, will be paid overtime allowances.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Labor Standards dated last 2010-12-29

Topic After changing 44 work-hour week system into 40 work-hour week system, when the number of workers is reduced due to economic reason, etc, does the legal application still remain effective?


For legal security and protection of reliability, the 40 work hour system remains effective.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Labor Standards dated 2010-12-29

Topic Legal characteristics of saturday under 40 work week system(5 work day week system)

If there is no agreement between labor and management about saturday, saturday is unpaid duty off day, not holiday.

o So, for saturday working, the company pays extended work allowance additionally in the case of work in excess of legal working hours(40 hrs a week)

ex) under 40 work hour week system, in case of a worker who was absent on Tuesday works and worked on saturday for 5 hours,

->The total work hours of the concerned week is less than 40 hours, an employer can pay wages for actual working hours without extended work allowance.



Source: http://www.moel.go.kr/english
--> on 40 hours working schedule

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Ito po ang mga kasagutan sa inyong mga katanungan tungkol sa pagpapatupad ng 40 hours

working schedule para sa lahat hindi lamang sa mga foreign workers (EPS) pati na rin sa mga

Koreans. Ang mga impormasyon na ito ay base sa pakikpanayam namin ng boss ko at sa

labor Office hinggil sa nasabing 40 hours working schedule simula july 01, 211

. --- dated July 1, 2011

Basic Pay - 4, 320 won per hour OT pay (basic pay * 1.25) - 5, 400 won per hour


Night Differential is 4, 320 * 0.5 and/or ( 2160 from 10pm-6am )

2 , 160 won * 8 hours =17 280 in 8 hours



In one week, regular days without overtime

(regular weekdays basic pay / hour * 8 hours/ day) * 5 days = 172, 800 in one week

( 172, 800 in a week * 4 weeks in a month ) = 691, 200 won in a month with only 40 hours


In overtime work

**ang overtime pay na po is 1.25 (like 4 320 basic pay per hour * 1.25) sa walong oras na

work ay 5, 400 per hour...

**ang overtime sa weekdays ay mula natapos ang 8 hours, ang oras na ito ay overtime pay

na,subalit iba dito ang night differential kung saan nagsisimula sa 10 pm to 6 pm..

**ang overtime din ay pag pumasok sa sabado, at itoy 8 hours work * 1.25, ang 1.25 ay

bago na pong rate simula ngun july 1, 2011, na di tulad ng nauna na 1.50 rate.


** subalit sa ibang company kung dati may work ang sabado,ang ginagawa ay distribute

nila sa lahat ng weekdays ung 8 hours work para maging OT parin...

Subalit ang sabado ay walang pasok, kung papasok man kayo depende narin sa company

ito, kung ay papasok sa sabado itoy magiging Overtime, ngunit no work no pay ang policy sa

sabado..

** sa ibang company naman, kahit hindi sila pumasok sa sabado, nagbibigay ng company ng

70 % or 100% full basic salary pay, NGUNIT WALA ITO SA CONTRACT, ibig sabihin sa

company mismo..

** sa 40 hours working sched, tinanggal na po ang Monthly allowance or Wolcha... ang wolcha

ay nsa batas ng labor kung saan binibigay ito sa lahat ng workers kung saan wala kang

absent sa isang buwan, at ito po ay tinanggal na..

** sa pagtanggal ng wolcha na nsa batas ng labor dati,isa pa din dito ang Nyeon cha or yearly

allowance kung saan makakatanggap ang bawat workers ( ang nyeon cha ay ang kabuuang

15 days / year na kung saan wala kang absent, ang nyeon cha ay nsa batas ng labor law.

Ang ju cha o weekly allowance ay WALA sa labor kundi nsa jurisdiction lamang ito ng bawat

company

** at ang mga bunos namn ay wala sa LABOR law, kung saan sa company lang ito galing

o nagbibigay para sa workers...galing ang pay na ito.


Maraming Salamat po, at sana maliwanagan ang lahat tungkol sa 40 hours work sked..

source: sulyapinoy

Workplaces with four workers or less will be required to take out departure guarantee insurance if they employ foreign workers.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor (Minister Lee Chae-pil) said on June 21 that an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Foreign Workers' Employment etc., containing this feature had been passed at a cabinet meeting.

Any employer who employs non-professional foreign workers (those holding E-9 or H-2 visas) under the Employment Permit System should take out departure guarantee insurance so that he/she can make retirement payments to the foreign workers when they depart from Korea. This has so far applied only to businesses or workplaces with five workers or more.

However, the retirement benefit system was extended from workplaces with five workers or more to those with four workers or less on December 1, 2010.

In addition, because foreign workers have to leave Korea as soon as their employment period expires, it is greatly needed to make retirement payments to them on time. For these reasons, the scope of workplaces required to buy departure guarantee insurance is expanded to include workplaces with four workers or less.

The revised decree will enter into force on August 1. According to it, workplaces with four workers or less should buy departure guarantee insurance only for foreign workers whose employment contracts will take effect on or after August 1.


* Foreign workers employed before August 1 will receive retirement pay according to the retirement benefit system.

Besides, the amendment abolishes the requirement for employers to return employment permits issued to them if they have any reason for having such permits revoked.

* Each employment permit contains the name and passport number of the relevant foreign worker, so there is little chance of misuse even if it is not returned. However, up until now the law has required a return of employment permits if they are revoked, which has done nothing but cause unnecessary inconvenience to employers.

In order to enhance punishment for repeat offenders, the amended law imposes additional fines if it has been repeatedly violated over a two-year period.

"The amendment will help foreign workers in small workplaces to receive retirement pay promptly and reduce workplaces' burden of making retirement payments all at once," said Lee Jae-gap, Deputy Minister of the Employment Policy Office. "The Ministry will distribute detailed implementation guidelines relating to the amendment to every job center and individual workplaces by the end of this month."

http://www.moel.go.kr/english/topic/employment_policy_view.jsp?&idx=803




Courtesy of Gennie KIM
( She is the Adviser- Sulyapinoy Website)

The government has simplified procedures for rehiring foreign workers.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Tuesday that beginning next month firms that want to rehire a foreign worker after three years of employment can apply to do so seven days before that employee's contract is up. Currently, firms must apply for rehiring 45 days prior to the contract termination date.

Under the nation’s regulation on reemployment, foreigners that have entered the nation under the foreign work permit system can work in South Korea for three years. Firms can extend the stay of foreign workers for a period of less than two years if they chose to rehire them.

Reported by KBS WORLD Radio
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mga Kabayan,

The simplified procedures for rehiring foreign workers as reported by the KBS World Radio ay

para lamang po sa mga BAGONG dating na EPS, kung saan ang knilang contract ay 3 years

lamang, meron po silang extension mula sa kanilang huling employer na 1 year and 10months.

Kung sakaling hindi ka na i-renew ng employer mo after 3 years, balik po kau ulit sa first

procedure ng application sa Pilipinas.



Q: Possibility to reenter Korea after completion of reemployment period?


Many foreign workers who complete reemployment period ask us whether or not they may reenter Korea again as an EPS worker.

Please refer to our reply as follows:

According to Article 18 (2) of the act on foreign workers' employment,ect(Restrictions on Employment), a foreign worker who has left afer having been employed in Korea shall not be reemployed, if six months has not passed since the date of his/her departure.

So after reemployment, during your working period, due to unavoidable reasons, if you have to come back to your country, after 6 months, you may take employment procedures from the begining, taking KLT, again.

As a result, if an Korean employer chooses you among many candidates on job roster as a worker through job-maching done by the job center, you may enter Korea.


courtesy of National labor Consultation Center

FINANCIAL LITERACY 2011

FINANCIAL LITERACY for ALL

** SUNDAY,JULY 17,2011 after the HOLY MASS

**HYEWA-DONG COFFEE SHOP(BESIDE ST.BENEDICTS PARISH CHURCH)

A FINANCIAL LITERACY TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE EMBASSY OF THE PHILS. HERE IN KOREA,HEADED BY CONSUL ARNEL TALISAYON.

THE SEMINAR AIMS TO:

--TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND TO EMPOWER THE OFW HERE IN KOREA,
--TO BE EQUIPPED OF THE KNOWLEDGE THEY NEED ON HOW TO MANAGE THE
EARNINGS.

EVENT IS OPEN TO ALL WHO WANTS TO LEARN...ADMISSION IS FREE

Workplaces with four workers or less will be required to take out departure guarantee insurance if they employ foreign workers.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor (Minister Lee Chae-pil) said on June 21 that an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Foreign Workers' Employment etc., containing this feature had been passed at a cabinet meeting.

Any employer who employs non-professional foreign workers (those holding E-9 or H-2 visas) under the Employment Permit System should take out departure guarantee insurance so that he/she can make retirement payments to the foreign workers when they depart from Korea. This has so far applied only to businesses or workplaces with five workers or more.

However, the retirement benefit system was extended from workplaces with five workers or more to those with four workers or less on December 1, 2010.

In addition, because foreign workers have to leave Korea as soon as their employment period expires, it is greatly needed to make retirement payments to them on time. For these reasons, the scope of workplaces required to buy departure guarantee insurance is expanded to include workplaces with four workers or less.

The revised decree will enter into force on August 1. According to it, workplaces with four workers or less should buy departure guarantee insurance only for foreign workers whose employment contracts will take effect on or after August 1.


* Foreign workers employed before August 1 will receive retirement pay according to the retirement benefit system.

Besides, the amendment abolishes the requirement for employers to return employment permits issued to them if they have any reason for having such permits revoked.

* Each employment permit contains the name and passport number of the relevant foreign worker, so there is little chance of misuse even if it is not returned. However, up until now the law has required a return of employment permits if they are revoked, which has done nothing but cause unnecessary inconvenience to employers.

In order to enhance punishment for repeat offenders, the amended law imposes additional fines if it has been repeatedly violated over a two-year period.

"The amendment will help foreign workers in small workplaces to receive retirement pay promptly and reduce workplaces' burden of making retirement payments all at once," said Lee Jae-gap, Deputy Minister of the Employment Policy Office. "The Ministry will distribute detailed implementation guidelines relating to the amendment to every job center and individual workplaces by the end of this month."

http://www.moel.go.kr/english/topic/employment_policy_view.jsp?&idx=803

Courtesy of Gennie KIM

( She is the Adviser- Sulyapinoy Website)