Cebu guv seeks end to Korea deployment moratorium

CEBU CITY: Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on Tuesday vowed to seek early resolution to the moratorium on sending seasonal workers to South Korea. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has suspended the Seasonal Worker Program, a tie-up with South Korea which allows the hiring of Filipinos to fill labor shortages in the agricultural and fishery sectors during peak seasons, because of complaints about unsafe labor conditions, underpayment, overwork, and two cases of death. Garcia said she will discuss the concern with the regional directors of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Bureau of Immigration to expedite the lifting of the moratorium and set guidelines to resume deployment. San Francisco Mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr., Bantayan Mayor Arthur Despi, and Alegria Vice Mayor Verna Magallon sought Garcia's assistance to help their constituents who have already spent for their documents. On Monday, Garcia met with DMW-Central Visayas director lawyer Karl Arriola at the capitol to discuss the issue. 'We will come up with a position paper here,' Garcia said. Source: Philippines News Agency