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Safety and Well-Being of Deployed Seasonal Workers

Background 

The Department issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 97-306 on November 25, 1997, which provides guidelines for establishing national or international sister-city or town-twinning relationships. This MC serves as a foundational document to facilitate connections between local authorities, fostering collaboration both locally and internationally for development projects that can benefit communities. Once both parties concur with the agreements, the partnership si formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Said MC plays a crucial role in the implementation of the Seasonal Workers Program (SWP), which assists Filipino workers employed overseas by providing support for their financial needs. The program also contributes ot the advancement of Philippine agricultural practices through the learnings of the deployed seasonal workers.

All LGUs that have SWP partnerships with the Republic of Korea are directed to:

1. review and revisit the terms of agreements of the partnerships;

2. ensure that certain provisions pertaining to the fair and equal treatment of Filipino seasonal workers ni South Korea are indicated ni the agreements, including, but not limited to, the following:

• fair wages

• decent working conditions

• access to medical care

3. promote awareness among seasonal workers of their rights and obligations;

4. provide appropriate mechanisms for grievance redressal, ni coordination with appropriate agencies.

Finally, al LGUs are also directed to check and monitor the work conditions of al deployed seasonal workers ni various partner countries, and submit status reports, including all grievances, complaints, and/or observations on the said concern, accordingly.

Legal Bases / References

• Advisory 2023.10.04 Directing All Concerned Local Government Units To Ensure the Safety and Well Being of Deployed Seasonal Workers

• Unnumbered Memo 2023.09.11 Request for Additional Information on Existing Seasonal Workers Program with the Republic of South Korea

• Unnumbered Memo 2023.07.17 LIST OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS THAT HAVE ENTERED INTO PARTNERSHIP WITH THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA RELATIVE TO THE SEASONAL WORKERS PROGRAM

• MC 1997 - 306 GUIDELINES IN ESTABLISHING NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL SISTER-CITY OR TOWN-TWINNING RELATIONSHIPS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 94 - 93 DATED JUNE 8, 1994