The South Korean government is working to expand its foreign caregiver program nationwide and is also considering the introduction of a “live-in” caregiver system. To facilitate this, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has initiated a demand survey among 17 metropolitan municipalities, asking them to submit details on their projected needs, preferred nationalities, and service types by the end of this month.
Currently, the pilot program in Seoul focuses primarily on childcare services. When transitioning to a full-scale program, the government is also exploring the possibility of separating childcare and household services. Candidate countries for foreign caregivers include the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Nepal, and Myanmar.
Discussions are also ongoing regarding the “live-in” caregiver model. While Seoul City advocates for households to directly employ foreign caregivers as a cost-saving measure, the Ministry of Employment and Labor prefers a system where workers are contracted through designated service providers, ensuring legal protections for the workers.
Concerns have been raised about potential human rights issues and cost burdens associated with the live-in system. Lawmakers and academics have warned that if mismanaged, such a system could lead to human rights violations and even international diplomatic tensions. They have called for a cautious approach to implementing the model.
The government plans to finalize its operational framework based on the results of the pilot program and aims to launch the full-scale initiative by June 2024.