18 June 2026, SEJONG CITY - Ambassador Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez, accompanied by Deputy Head of Mission and Consul General Edwin Gil Mendoza, Labor Attache Rosemarie Duquez and other MWO Seoul officials, met with officials of the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (EPIS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) led by its President, Mr. Dong Jin Yoon in Sejong City and discussed issues related to the Seasonal Workers Program (SWP) on 18 June 2026 at the EPIS Headquarters in Sejong City.    

The SWP is an initiative of the Government of the Republic of Korea to address the seasonal labor demands of rural communities.  It is legally based on the Immigration Control Act and administered by the Ministry of Justice. It allows local governments in the ROK to legally hire foreign workers for short periods to help with labor shortages in farming and fishing communities. Workers are selected through various channels, including cooperation agreements with overseas local governments.

In May 2026, the EPIS was designated as the Central Seasonal Workers Agency responsible for standardizing the SWP operations and improving conditions for foreign workers in the fisheries and agriculture sectors.

The meeting discussed the role of the EPIS as the central coordinating body for the SWP and highlighted important issues to further improve the program such as more system reform, inter-agency coordination, and stronger engagement with sending countries like the Philippines.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul reaffirmed the program’s benefits while advocating for improved worker protection and administrative clarity. Meanwhile, EPIS emphasized preventive mechanisms, database development, and institutional standardization.  The meeting marked an important step toward institutionalizing bilateral coordination mechanisms and enhancing the long-term sustainability of the SWP.

Prior to the call, Consul General Mendoza and Labatt Duquez attended the Central Seasonal Worker Support Center Opening Ceremony held on 16 June 2026 at the Auditorium of the EPIS HQ in Sejong City. - END