Seoul begins accepting applications for Filipino caregivers on rolling basis

Seoul began accepting applications for the country’s newly adopted foreign domestic caregiver program on a rolling basis following the withdrawal of some selected families.

Filipino domestic caregiver Mary Grace, 36, poses for a photo with a child on Tuesday at a household where she began working under the foreign domestic caregiver scheme that launched the same day. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

Seoul began accepting applications for the country’s newly adopted foreign domestic caregiver program on a rolling basis following the withdrawal of some selected families.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Tuesday that 142 households were eventually matched with the 100 Filipino domestic caregivers who officially began work on the same day, down from the previously announced 157 households due to cancellations.

Around 80 percent of the selected households consist of working parents. The remaining households include pregnant mothers, families with at least three children and single-parent families.

Households with a child aged 12 or younger or expecting a baby are eligible to apply for the program at any time through two mobile applications managed by service providers Homesaeng and Hubriz, the city government said.

The decision comes as families prefer to use the system selectively and for varying periods, as their need for domestic care support can change frequently. Households can hire caregivers for four, six or eight hours a day between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays.

“We expect to see more changes and withdrawals in applications from households using the system,” an official from the city government said, adding that accepting applications on a rolling basis will be more effective in providing timely service to households in need.

Those receiving services from these Filipino domestic caregivers can cancel their services up to three days before they wish to discontinue them. They can adjust their service usage through call centers operated by the service providers.

The 100 Filipino domestic caregivers who arrived in Korea last month began their first day of work on Tuesday after completing a monthlong, 160-hour training session that included job training and a Korean language class.

The Seoul city government also released guidelines on the duties of these domestic caregivers on the same day, as there had been some confusion about the tasks they were allowed to perform.

Their duties include babysitting, simple cleaning using vacuum cleaners and laundry using washing machines. However, they are not responsible for elderly care, grocery shopping, hand-washing laundry, hand-cleaning, ironing or taking out the garbage.

Additionally, their duties do not include cleaning windows and verandas or preparing meals for adults.

“We encourage households using the service to provide feedback," said Kim Sun-soon, head of the Seoul city government’s Women and Family Policy Division, adding that such feedback and consultations can be made through call centers operated by the service providers, as well as a consultation channel jointly operated by the Seoul city government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

"We will actively support the Filipino domestic caregivers so they can perform their caregiving duties on-site without issues."

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]