SEOUL, 12 July 2016 ? Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez lauded on 10 July 2016 the latest milestone of a community organization founded a decade ago to promote the interests of Filipino workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS) of South Korea.

Seventy officers and members of the Filipino EPS Workers Association (FEWA) celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Rizal Hall of the Philippine Embassy Chancery in Seoul, taking the theme “Magkaisang Manggagawang Pilipino Para sa Kinabukasan ng Pamilya at Tagumpay ng Bayan” (Filipino Workers United for the Future of our Families and the Triumph of our Country). In his congratulatory message, Ambassador Hernandez highlighted the value of work and encouraged everyone to do their best in whatever task or job. “No matter how difficult it is, your responsibility as workers is to do your best to accomplish whatever task is assigned to you and remember to make use of a difficult situation to come out to be a better version of yourselves.” Welfare Officer Manuela Pena reassured the FEWA members that the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in the Embassy is always ready to help them with their problems at work as well as to prepare them for their return home with reintegration programs, free skills training, and financial literacy seminars conducted in various parts of South Korea. FEWA President Richard Corpuz opened the commemorative event by reminding the members of the original purpose of the organization and giving assurances that he will strive to increase the registered members to make it stronger and even better. He then led FEWA’s members in a ceremony to renew their commitment to the organization’s objectives. Dr. Joeffrey Calimag, Editor-in-Chief of FEWA’s official monthly bulletin SULYAPINOY, cited in closing remarks the importance of having an organization like FEWA to help EPS workers especially in times of need. Dr. Calimag, a professor of global management and international business at University of Ulsan, is one of the pioneer volunteers to FEWA. FEWA also honored the organizations, individuals and outstanding EPS workers, in particular FEWA Vice President Cherrylyn Tolentino, who received the award EPS of the Year for 2015. FEWA was established in 2006, two years after the establishment of the EPS through the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Philippines and Korea that allows mainly SMEs that fail to attract Korean laborers to resort to the hiring of Filipino workers in the country. The organization aims to assist EPS workers thru counseling on labor-related issues in coordination with the Embassy’s Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO), outreach programs of hospitalized EPS workers and intervene on migrant related issues that affect the welfare of the Filipinos. Through the years, FEWA has conducted various activities in coordination together with the POLO, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Human Resources Development Service of Korea, Seoul Global Center and other worker-focused organizations. In its “Balik Tanaw Project”, FEWA raises funds to purchase computers and school supplies for donation to various schools in the Philippines by collecting 10 Korean won coins put aside in piggy banks throughout the year. It has also come to the aid of victims of natural disasters in the Philippines and has provided assistance to ailing or distressed Filipino workers in collaboration with other Filipino community organizations. As of May 2016 there are 24,490 Filipino EPS workers in South Korea, in addition to 5,076 undocumented, mostly former EPS, workers. ? END?