Seasonal Workers in Korea: Philippine Edition
UPDATE (2024 January)!
The Seasonal Workers Program is temporarily ON HOLD due to issues with brokers or middlemen
Jump to:
• What is Seasonal Workers Program
• Difference between Seasonal Worker and Factory Worker
• Who can apply (Qualifications)
• List of Municipalities with MOUs
• Requirements for Application
• How to apply as a Seasonal Worker in Korea
• Visa Application Requirements
Seasonal Workers Program in Korea
The Seasonal Worker Program in Korea assists fishermen and farmers in the agricultural and fishery sector to fill labor shortages during busy farming season by allowing legal hiring of foreign workers for a certain period of time. It directly connects Municipalities in the Philippines to the ones in Korea.
Employment Duration and Visa Type
- 90 days: C-4 Visa
- 5 months: E-8 Visa
Foreigners may apply for the Seasonal Workers Program more than once.
The Korean Government is also planning to extend the visa duration of foreign seasonal workers to 8 months, and grant long-term residency status to workers who have participated in the program more than 5 times.
Expected Salary
The current minimum wage in Korea is 9,620 won per hour. Seasonal Workers usually work 8 - 10 hours per day, 6 times a week, or 208 hours per month.| Day (8 hrs) | Week (6 days) | 1 month (208 hours) | |
| KRW | 76,960 | 461,760 | 2,000,960 |
| PHP | 3,310 | 19,861 | 86,065 |
| USD | 59 | 354 | 1,534 |
based on 2023.11.07 rates
If the seasonal worker stays for 90 days, the expected salary would be at least 6,002,880 won. And if the seasonal worker stays for 5 months, the expected salary would be at least 10,004,800 won.
Seasonal Farmer VS Factory Worker
| Seasonal Farmer | Factory Worker |
|
|
Who can apply:
- Resident of the Municipality
- 25-50 years old (age requirement differs per municipality)
- Physically Fit
- Farm Worker/Fishermen or with farming/fishing experience
- At least Elementary Graduate
- Fully Vaccinated with booster
- Passport holder
Who are NOT allowed to apply:
- Those with criminal or illegal stay records
- Those with no long-term occupations
- Those with infectious diseases (TB)
- Drug Addicts
- Those who have given birth within the past year or are pregnant
- Those who are not suitable to visit South Korea
Philippine Municipalities with MOUs to participate
| PHILIPPINE | KOREAN PARTNER CITY |
| Batangas | Chuncheon |
| Bauang | Taebaek |
| Cavite | |
| Cebu | |
| Cordova | Wonju, Pyeongchang, Hoengseong Jeongseon |
| Dumaguete | Yeongdong-gun |
| Gingoog | Sangju |
| Isabela | |
| Negros | |
| Pampanga | |
| Pangasinan | < |
| San Juan | Hongcheon |
| San Leonardo | Inje |
| Silang, Cavite | |
| Tarlac | Yanggu, Inje |
| Rizal |
Required Documents
Initial Application
- 2x2 Picture
- Valid Passport
- Application form
- Any Diploma
- Updated Resume
- Valid ID with home address at the Municipality
How to apply as a Seasonal Worker in Korea
APPLICATION DURATION: 1 ~ 2 months. From application to flight to Korea.
Step 0: Ask your Municipality if they are offering the Seasonal Workers Program
Contact the nearest LGU and ask if they are offering the Seasonal Workers Program for South Korea. Be sure to check if they have an MOU and if they have sent applicants to Korea before. Only LGUs are allowed to recruit applicants.
Step 1: Barangay Certification
LGUs may ask for proof that you have been a resident of the municipal for a certain period of time. Visit your Barangay Hall and ask for a cedula to prove you are a resident.
Step 2: Fill out the Application form at the Municipality or LGU
Visit the LGU and fill out the application form then submit your documents
Step 3: Initial Screening (Municipality)
Step 4: Final Screening (Korean)
Step 5: Medical Exam
The applicant will undergo a simple medical examination to verify that they are fit enough to work for Korea. They will check the applicant's Blood Pressure (BP), if they are color-blind , or if they have issues with their lungs (Tuberculosis or lung scarrings).
Step 6: 3 weeks Training
• Basic Korean Language Training: Farm tools and equipment
• Korean Culture
Step 7: Big Brother System -
Step 8: Visa Processing
The LGU will be in charge of the visa application process. The applicant only has to submit the required documents to the LGU handling the application
Visa Application Requirements
- Application form
- Passport (original and photocopy of biopage)
- Passport size colored picture
- Medical Certificate
- Certificate of TB (Tuberculosis) Screening
- NBI Clearance
- WHO-Approved certificate of COVID-19 vaccination
- Visa Fee:
- 90 days (C-4) : PHP 2,000
- 5 months (E-8): PHP 3,000
Estimated Expenses
Some LGUs may offer that the fees can be deducted when you get your salary in Korea
Processing Fee:
NBI Clearance: 200 PHP
Medical Checkup: 1,000 ~ 5,000 PHP depending on the hospital
Plane Ticket: 10,000 ~ 30,000 PHP
Visa: 3,000 PHP
Korean Language Training: Depending on the LGU (4,000 ~ 25,000 PHP)
Recruitment Period
Working Conditions
8-10 hours per day (6 days a week, 208 hours a month)
Holidays are guaranteed (at least 4 days for every 30 days).
Food and Housing: Depends on the farm owner. Some may be provided for free, and others may be charged a minimal amount (200,000 won per month)
Medical Insurance
| 90 days (C-4) | 5 months (E-8) | |
| Registration Fee | 10,000 won | 10,000 won |
| Monthly Membership Fee | 30,000 won | 50,000 won |
| Total | 40,000 won | 60,000 won |
https://k-life.co/employee/8022#how_season
The LGU will contact you directly if you are selected and hired
Salary deductions also vary per province, some province deduct on a monthly basis
The estimate expenses would also vary from around 50,000 to 100,000 pesos
https://k-life.co/employee/8022#expenses_season