OTR: South Korea Will Hire Foreign Domestic Helpers to Solve Low Birth Rate Dilemma
20 September 2023
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is planning to welcome 100 foreign domestic helpers in December, primarily targeting workers from Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines.
South Korea is grappling with challenges such as a low birth rate, declining numbers of marriages, and an ageing population, prompting the government to address these issues by increasing the number of foreign domestic workers.
A press statement from the prime minister's office notes that the pilot programme seeks to alleviate the pressures of household chores and childcare in South Korea.
Discussions with the Ministry of Employment and Labour and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have identified domestic help as the top employment category for foreign recruits.
The government will oversee the sourcing of domestic workers through a “certified public trustworthy organisation” and “carefully monitor users' reactions and demands during the management and operation process."
The initiative aims to offer both housekeeping and childcare services within homes.
Domestic helpers are becoming increasingly sought after in Seoul due to the lack of interest among Koreans in such jobs.
Those employing the helpers are likely to be dual-income couples in their 20s to 40s, single-parent households, and families with multiple children.
Applicants should be at least 24 years old, fluent in English, and possess relevant experience and skills. Those with prior experience in foreign domestic work are highly preferred.
Before being allowed entry into South Korea, these workers will undergo thorough vetting procedures to exclude those with criminal backgrounds, mental health problems, or drug-related issues.
Training sessions will be offered to selected candidates, covering topics such as the Korean language, local culture, labour laws, and guidelines on preventing child abuse and ensuring safety.
The pilot initiative is set to commence later this year and will last for a six-month period.
How can foreign domestic helpers help South Korea’s low birth rate?
Last year, South Korea set a new low in its fertility rate, dropping from 0.81 to 0.78, marking the world's lowest birth rate.
Generally, a fertility rate of 2.1 is necessary for countries to sustain their populations without immigration.
The decline in South Korea's birth rate has been consistent since 2015, and the country recorded more deaths than births in 2020.
According to recent surveys, younger Koreans are increasingly disinterested in marriage and starting families.
Experts attribute the demographic changes to various factors, including high-pressure work environments, stagnant wages, rising cost of living, evolving views on marriage and gender roles, and increasing disenchantment among the youth.
Korean women are choosing to have children later, usually in their mid-30s, as many career-oriented women perceive marriage and motherhood as impediments to their professional advancement.
Giving birth could put women at a further disadvantage in South Korea due to existing gender inequalities.
According to the 2022 Global Gender Gap Report, South Korea was positioned 99th out of 146 nations, highlighting a substantial gender gap within the country.
Read more: Korea ranks near bottom of annual gender equality index
To combat the declining birth rate, the government has previously implemented measures like extended paid paternity leaves, financial incentives for new parents, and social campaigns urging men to participate in domestic chores.
However, these efforts haven't yielded the desired results, leading the government to consider hiring foreign domestic workers as a new approach.
This idea is modelled after Singapore's "Foreign Maid Scheme," initiated in the 1970s, which led to an increase in the participation of Singaporean women in the workforce.
According to CNN’s report, the proposed wages for foreign domestic workers in South Korea range from 15,000 won (approximately 19.11 NZD) per hour for those not residing with their employers to around 4.5 million won per month (approximately 5,727.04 NZD) for live-in staff.
The amount is quite high in comparison to a four-person household's average monthly income, which is only about 5.04 million won (6,466.88 NZD). There are concerns that employers might end up paying less than the proposed rates, similar to situations seen in Hong Kong, where foreign domestic helpers are receiving far lower wages than other foreign workers.
Critics argue that bringing in foreign domestic workers is not a long-term solution to South Korea's low birth rate issue.
Culture also plays a role: society generally expects married couples to have children, whereas single parents are stigmatised. In addition, unmarried women are not eligible for IVF treatments, which could potentially lead to the birth of more children.
Same-sex marriages in South Korea are also not recognised, which limits adoption possibilities for many potential parents.
Moreover, the high cost of child-rearing in South Korea poses a significant challenge as the country ranks as the most expensive nation in the world for raising a child. The estimated cost is about 7.79 times the country’s per-capita GDP, with a large portion of this expense stemming from the widespread practice of enrolling children in private cram schools.
The South Korean government's initiative to hire foreign domestic helpers doesn’t seem to tackle these broader, systematic problems that play a significant role in the nation's declining birth rate.
-Asia Media Centre
Carla Teng
Media Adviser
Carla Teng joined Asia Media Centre as a media adviser. She was a former diplomatic correspondent for TV5 Network and served as the chief editor for the Office of the President of the Philippines.
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