Kind Filipino Auntie Who Speaks English, Will She Save Korea? [Curiosity Lab]

First Step of Filipino Domestic Workers in Korea
Proven for Over 50 Years Worldwide Including Hong Kong and Singapore
Many Knowledgeable 30s with Good English, Good Personality, and Strong Family Values
Attention on Whether It Can Solve Low Birthrate and Career Interruption Issues

"We succeeded in finding a super nanny. I'm so excited."

Filipino workers participating in the pilot project for foreign housekeeping managers arrived through Incheon International Airport on the 6th, where Ms. Glory is answering questions. Photo by Airport Photo Journalists Group

At the end of last year, a woman from Hong Kong posted on her Facebook that she had successfully found an excellent nanny, sharing a photo of the nanny studying English with her children. The woman said, "She is a super nanny who tutors my children. I wasn't good at teaching them, but overnight my child finished the English reading assignment," and added, "The super nanny even used Google Translate to help me with my work," expressing her admiration. Hong Kong netizens commented, "You're really lucky," "Having a good nanny is a jackpot," and "You hit the lottery." According to the information shared by this woman, the super nanny is a 35-year-old from the Philippines who worked as a teacher there but sought employment overseas due to low income. The monthly salary for a Filipino nanny is the minimum wage of 4,730 Hong Kong dollars (approximately 830,000 KRW at the current exchange rate). In Hong Kong, about 300,000 foreign domestic helpers work, with over 200,000 estimated to be Filipino nationals.

As of 2022, the average monthly wage for Filipino workers was 18,423 pesos (about 440,000 KRW at the time). South Korea’s current minimum wage is about 2.06 million KRW per month, which is roughly five times higher. The Philippines, with a population exceeding 100 million, was once an emerging Asian powerhouse wealthier than South Korea, but it has not escaped the shadow of long-standing corruption. Because of this, many Filipinos have looked overseas, and tourism along with labor export has become a cornerstone of the economy. This is why the Philippines is called the world’s housekeeper. Domestically, they are called Filipino "imo" (aunties), while overseas they are referred to as nannies. The official term is Household Service Workers (HSW).

Foreign domestic workers from the Philippines participating in the pilot project for foreign domestic workers management are arriving through Incheon International Airport on the 6th. Photo by Gonghang Photojournalists Group

As of 2022, the number of overseas Filipino workers is estimated at 1.96 million. Among them, 1.13 million (57.8%) are women and 828,000 (42.2%) are men. Most (69.8%) of the 1.13 million female overseas workers are engaged in basic jobs such as cleaning, car washing, kitchen assistance, cashiering, and household management. The total remittances sent home by these 1.96 million overseas workers amount to 200 billion pesos (approximately 4.8 trillion KRW), averaging about 2.6 million KRW per worker. A labor export agency explains why Filipino household workers are preferred worldwide: "English is the second official language in the Philippines, so those with some education speak English well. They are kind and responsible. Filipinos grow up in Catholic families with many children, where family always comes first."

On the morning of the 6th, 100 Filipino household workers participating in a pilot project promoted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor arrived at Incheon International Airport. After receiving four weeks of specialized training, they will provide childcare and household services in Seoul homes for six months starting September 3. All are household workers aged 24 to 38 who completed over 780 hours of training at a Philippine vocational training center and obtained government-certified qualifications. They are fluent in English and can communicate at a certain level in Korean. They have also undergone health checks and background verifications for drugs and criminal records. They will commute from shared accommodations in Seoul. The program was very popular, with 751 households applying for 100 positions. The main reasons for application were cleaning children’s rooms, meal preparation, and school drop-off and pick-up, with some families specifically requesting English education.

Filipino domestic workers participating in the pilot project for foreign domestic workers arrived through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the morning of the 6th and are moving by bus. Photo by Airport Photographers Group

However, there is some confusion due to unclear job scope. Simply put, tasks such as preparing meals for children, bathing them, giving snacks, and laundry are allowed. But household chores unrelated to children, such as dishwashing, taking out the trash, pet care, cleaning, and difficult cooking tasks, are not permitted. Regarding this, the Ministry of Employment and Labor explained, "Filipino household workers can perform household duties related to childcare, such as cleaning and laundry, and may assist with other household tasks for cohabiting family members within that scope. However, they must perform only the tasks specified in the service contract. Users cannot arbitrarily assign tasks." There are plans to prepare a checklist detailing the scope of work.

There are various names, but for us, nanny, live-in helper, household manager, or in the past, maid or housekeeper, are appropriate, with "imo" or "imo-nim" (auntie) being commonly used. The activities of Filipino imos help reduce childcare burdens and provide opportunities for women who have left the workforce to re-enter society. In the mid to long term, this is also a solution to low birth rates. For the pilot project to become a full program, standards for wages and treatment must be established. Currently, the cost is 13,700 KRW per hour, which exceeds the minimum wage. Based on 4 hours per day, the monthly pay is 1.19 million KRW, and for 8 hours, it is 2.38 million KRW.

Visitors at the childcare expo held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, are looking at childcare products. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

If the live-in standard like in Hong Kong or Singapore is adopted, families living in apartments or villas will need to prepare separate spaces, which is a challenge. Costs may increase, and if commuting is required, housing arrangements become a variable. This could create a sense of alienation, making it a system only for the wealthy. The perception and human rights awareness regarding Filipino imos are also important. In Singapore and Hong Kong, where foreign household worker systems have been in place for over 50 years, controversies over physical and emotional abuse such as assault, confinement, threats, and wage arrears persist. They are often regarded not as household workers but as slaves or servants. Some are monitored by CCTV even in their sleeping quarters and forced to work 16 hours a day outside of sleeping time.

For the Philippine government and its people, South Korea is not a bad choice. Many migrant workers already earn above minimum wage and send money home, with some becoming skilled workers or business owners earning substantial income. Whether Filipino imos become a new Korean Dream or a nightmare, and whether they establish themselves as a new household service in Korean homes, depends on the success of the pilot project.