South Korea Extends Stay, Raises Wages for Filipino Caregivers

Key Takeaways

• South Korea will extend visas for Filipino caregivers to a maximum of 36 months, including an additional 29-month extension.
• Caregivers will receive a 20.5% wage increase, raising hourly pay from 13,940 won to 16,800 won starting March 2025.
• Caregivers can now arrange their own housing; dormitory curfews are removed, and commuting distances have been reduced.

South Korea 🇰🇷 has announced plans to extend visas for Filipino 🇵🇭 caregivers participating in its pilot program while also introducing a wage increase. This decision, made public on February 14, 2025, comes as the six-month pilot program initiated in August 2024 approaches its conclusion on February 28, 2025. The updated measures aim to address the feedback received during the trial phase and resolve the critical caregiver shortage in the country.

Under the new plan, Filipino caregivers will now be able to stay in South Korea for up to 36 months, including their initial seven-month tenure. This means workers can receive an additional 29-month visa extension. However, it is unclear whether caregivers will be allowed to work for the full 36 months or only during the first year of the extension. This will likely be determined as the government provides additional guidelines.

South Korea Extends Stay, Raises Wages for Filipino Caregivers

Aside from the visa extension, wages for Filipino caregivers will also increase starting in March 2025. Workers will see an hourly pay rise from 13,940 won (about 550 pesos) to 16,800 won (approximately 670 pesos), which represents a 20.5% increase. The wage adjustment aims to help caregivers better manage expenses, including insurance and living costs, which were noted as significant challenges in the program’s pilot phase.

Currently, 98 Filipino caregivers are part of this program, providing services to approximately 180 households in the Seoul area. Despite certain challenges during the pilot stage, the majority of these workers have expressed interest in staying in South Korea. In fact, only four to seven caregivers have indicated their intention to return to the Philippines following the program’s initial end. This high retention rate underscores that, despite the hurdles, many caregivers see an advantage in continuing to work in South Korea.

Pilot Program and its Goals

The caregiver pilot program was launched by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in cooperation with South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor. It was designed to respond to the country’s acute caregiver shortage and exorbitant childcare expenses. At the same time, it ties into broader national efforts to combat the country’s plummeting birthrate by offering more affordable childcare solutions for families.

During the pilot period, some problematic conditions were flagged. Caregivers shared concerns about high living costs, their limited savings potential, and challenges related to dormitory arrangements. Monthly rental charges for shared housing near Yeoksam Station, a prime location in Seoul, reached 510,000 won (just over 20,000 pesos). Many caregivers found this unaffordable and expressed their desire to find alternative, less expensive accommodations. This feedback has prompted a key change: caregivers will now have the ability to arrange their own housing. It is expected that only about 35 of the current workers will stay in the existing shared facility, with the remainder opting for other living arrangements.

Issues such as long commutes and strict restrictions on dormitory life were also raised. It was common for some caregivers to endure daily commutes of over four hours round trip, leaving them physically drained. Moreover, caregivers had to deal with dormitory curfews that limited their personal time. These issues are being addressed under the extended guidelines. Commuting distances have been reduced, and the dormitory curfew has been entirely removed. Additionally, wages for caregivers will be paid more frequently to improve their financial situation and provide greater stability.

Addressing Roles and Working Conditions

The pilot phase also highlighted some misunderstandings about the roles of Filipino caregivers. A survey conducted in October 2024 revealed that many workers were asked to perform tasks beyond childcare, which is outside the official scope of their duties. For example, caregivers were sometimes required to handle extensive household chores, going beyond what had been initially agreed upon. Filipino officials reinforced the fact that the caregivers are trained professionals in childcare and should not be treated as domestic helpers. As a result, South Korean officials clarified job descriptions, underlining that roles are limited exclusively to childcare.

Considering Nationwide Expansion

While efforts to improve the program in Seoul are underway, discussions about expanding the initiative to other cities are ongoing. Initially, the South Korean government planned to roll out a nationwide caregiver program, estimating the recruitment of 1,200 caregivers from various countries in Southeast Asia during the first half of 2025. However, a survey conducted in December 2024 dampened enthusiasm for this plan, as many regions, aside from Seoul, reported minimal or no demand for caregivers. Cities like Busan and Sejong recorded fewer than 20 caregiver requests, while 14 other areas expressed no need for the service at all.

Due to this lukewarm response, plans for nationwide expansion have been postponed. Policymakers are now focusing on further refining and stabilizing the program within Seoul before attempting to scale it elsewhere. The Ministry of Employment and Labor, in partnership with the Seoul government, plans to share updated details about the future of this initiative on February 19, 2025.

Concerns Regarding Service Costs

Another challenge being closely monitored is the potential rise in costs that families using the caregiver service would have to bear. Initially, private companies managing the workers announced an hourly fee increase to 16,900 won per caregiver starting in March 2025. However, this was quickly withdrawn following public backlash. The Ministry of Employment and Labor has since clarified that no final decision has been made regarding the fees families will need to pay. In a bid to ease financial burdens, the Seoul city government is developing financial assistance measures, including an annual subsidy of 700,000 won for low-income families with children younger than 12 years old. These steps may help families afford necessary childcare.

Future of Filipino Caregivers in South Korea

South Korea’s decision to extend visas and improve working conditions for Filipino caregivers reflects an ongoing focus on creating sustainable solutions for its caregiving and childcare challenges. South Korea has the world’s lowest fertility rate, making substantial population growth unlikely without external support mechanisms. Programs like this, which provide affordable support for working families, play an essential role in addressing these demographic issues.

From the perspective of Filipino caregivers, the visa extension and wage increase are welcome changes. Many of these workers have endured significant challenges, including high living costs and long work hours, and these adjustments offer the promise of greater comfort and financial security while working abroad. Remaining caregivers will not only enjoy higher earnings but will also benefit from improved living conditions and increased flexibility regarding housing and personal time.

Still, challenges persist. Improving the experience for caregivers while continuing to meet the needs of Korean families will require ongoing collaboration between South Korean and Philippine officials. The Philippine government has emphasized the need to respect the expertise and professional status of its workers, and South Korea appears to be reaffirming its commitment to ensuring an appropriate balance.

The next few months will provide critical insights into the pilot program’s long-term feasibility. As additional outcomes and data emerge, adjustments may be necessary to ensure its success. South Korea is adapting to pressing demographic issues with practical policies, but whether this specific program can consistently deliver on its goals remains to be seen.

For official information on immigration policies for caregivers and other workers in South Korea, refer to the Ministry of Justice’s Immigration Services website: Immigration Services – South Korea.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, this initiative marks an important step in addressing population concerns while strengthening meaningful cooperation between South Korea and the Philippines, helping migrant workers and host families alike.

Learn Today

Pilot Program → A temporary initiative designed to test and evaluate the feasibility of a new policy or service.
Visa Extension → The authorization to prolong the duration an individual is allowed to remain in a foreign country legally.
Dormitory Curfew → A set time limiting the hours residents of shared housing facilities are permitted to leave or return.
Professional Status → Recognition of specialized training and qualifications that define someone’s role and responsibilities in their occupation.
Demographic Issues → Challenges arising from changes in population characteristics, such as birthrates, aging, or migration patterns.

This Article in a Nutshell

South Korea extends Filipino caregivers’ visas to 36 months and raises wages by 20.5% starting March 2025 amid its caregiver shortage. This pilot program not only supports Filipino workers with better pay and housing flexibility but also tackles South Korea’s childcare crisis, reflecting a vital collaboration between both nations.
— By VisaVerge.com