Runaway Filipino helpers caught in Busan blame undue monitoring for leaving Seoul

Two Filipino carers, who left their workplace without permission in Seoul last month and were apprehended in Busan, were found to have been working illegally in cleaning jobs.

Philippine officials cited excessive surveillance as a reason for their unauthorised departure. The Philippine government has urged the remaining 98 Filipino workers in South Korea to comply with immigration laws.

Hans Leo Cacdac, the secretary of the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), said on Wednesday that the government is awaiting the results of the investigation conducted by local South Korean authorities regarding the workers’ unauthorised departure.

Cacdac emphasised that the Philippine government is providing legal help to the workers to ensure that they would face no undue pressure during the investigation.

According to reports from the Filipino media outlet GMA, the two carers claimed that they faced difficulties due to alleged overwork and overwatch.

“They were able to find another job offering employment as a cleaner. So that was where they were caught, with their new employer. They were brought to the immigration authority in Busan,” said Bernard Olalia, undersecretary of the DMW.