Remember the movie “The Taste of Money”? It is a Korean film that includes Maui Taylor. She plays the role of a Filipina nanny in Korea of a “chaebol” family. Her son and daughter in the movie are Filipinos, too 😀
While it may be possible for diplomats and foreign investors to hire a Filipina nanny in Korea, it is not legal for ordinary Koreans to do so. There are Filipinas working as nannies in Korea who got in the country with the C-3 or tourist visa. Without a working permit (F-1 for housekeepers of diplomats and foreign investors), they choose to work illegally.
Why are Filipina nannies in Korea popular?
Day care centers and kindergartens are not enough to accommodate every child in Korea. Many dual-income families rely on their relatives to take care of the children. For some, it is just not possible and the only way for them to work and raise kids is to hire a nanny. Korean-Chinese (who can work at any job with their F-4 visa) are paid 2 million won (almost 2,000 USD) and above per month as housekeepers or nannies.
There are Korean families who choose to hire Filipina nanny for two reasons: they are cheaper and their proficiency in English is expected to benefit the children they take care of.
A Filipina nanny in Korea could earn between 1.3 and 1.5 million won (that’s almost 1,500 to 2,000 USD) as a stay-in housekeeper and nanny. Aside from doing household chores, she is expected to take care of the children and tutor them in English. The latter is the main reason why a Korean family would hire a Filipina nanny despite the risk.
What are the risks of working (or hiring) a Filipina nanny in Korea?
Korea is not open to the employment of foreign housekeepers. Only foreign diplomats residing in Korea and foreign investors can bring in their own housekeepers. (There is an association of legal Filipino housekeepers in Korea.)
Thus, if a Korean hire a Filipina nanny (who does not have a proper visa ~ like F-6 or spousal visa of F-5 or permanent resident) he could be facing a penalty of up to three years imprisonment or a fine of 20 million won. The Filipina working illegally as a nanny would also be deported if found.
Will Korea be open to hiring foreign housekeepers?
Unlike Hong Kong, Korea is not open to hiring foreign housekeepers. This is to protect the low-income Koreans. One can hire a “cleaning ajumma” for four hours at 30,000 won.
Of course, we don’t know what will happen in the future.
The reason why they don’t allow foreign nannies/housekeepers is to protect the low-income Koreans. That is actually a good reason. Anyway, aside from being a nanny what other jobs most Filipinos have in Korea? Thanks~~
Factory work, English teachers, office work and there are also some who work as professionals like engineers and professors in universities.
You can check an old post I did before…
https://old.buhaykorea.com/2008/04/10/professional-pinoys-in-korea/
hi. just wanna ask if totoo po ba na mga koreans they look down on filipinos?
Like all Koreans look down on Filipinos? I don’t think so. Pero ang alam ng mga Korean sa Filipino ay mahihirap kasi yun ang nakikita nila sa TV. Pero pinahahalagahan nila ang edukasyon kaya pag may nakilala kang Korean at alam niya na nakapag-aral ka eh pantay naman ang tingin sa ‘yo. Mababait at matulungin ang mga Koreans, pero para rin lang silang mga Pinoy na meron ding hindi magandang ugali.
thanks for your reply ms betchay. kc i know someone nka pag asawa cia ng korean then pumunta cla ng korea, after 3months umiiyak na c girl kc gsto ng umuwi. curious lg po kc ako kng bkit gnun cia. hehehe. kng anu bang meron sa korea na nkakapg paiyak sa kanya.
Hi Mia! Iba kasi ang pag-aasawa ng Korean. Kahit ako before naranasan ko umiyak kasi nahirapan ako sa housework, but my husband and in-laws are very nice. Iba lang talaga expectation natin sa marriage. Napaka-patriarchal kasi ng Korean society at may lugar ang mga daughters-in-law. And I just don’t mean Filipino daughters-in-law pero pati mga Korean daughters-in-law. Kahit nga silang mga Korean alam na nila kultura nila pero hirap pa rin sila sa buhay may-asawa sa Korea. Kaya nga ilang beses ko sinasabi rito na ang pag-aasawa ng Korean eh hindi dapat basta-basta at laging pag-isipan.
https://old.buhaykorea.com/2009/11/07/before-sign-marriage-certificate/
thanks for your reply ms betchay 🙂 Godbless po
ms betchay, ask lg po ako if malaki po ung gastos sa korean embassy pg gstung mgpakasal ng korean sa filipina?
hello unni 🙂 ang pag aasawa po ba ng korean malaki po ba ing difference sa pg aasawa ng filipino? Gustong Gusto ko po kse talaga mkpg asawa ng korean. pero may mga bagay na minsan di mgnda nggng comment nila. alam ko din nmn mo na not all korean are the same. parang dito lang din sa pilipinas dpo ba. 🙂
hi po tanong ko lang po sana kung pwede po ba mag hire ng nanny from philippines ang american citizen na nakatira sa south korea? kung pwede po ano po ang mga requirements? salamat po
Hi Jeassa! Pwede silang mag-hire kung meron silang diplomat o investor sa visa sa South Korea. Kung hindi diplomat or investor visa, hindi sila pwede mag-hire ng nanny from the Philippines.
hi I am looking for house keeper nanny live in from 6th or 8th of dec to 9th of jan. we have age 2 and 3 years old boy and girl. please let me know if anyone interested in the job.
song.isabel@gmail.com
hi po naghahanap po aq ng trabho sa korea..im ex abroad frm saudi..
Hi mam ask ko lang dati po ako nagwork sa korea as nanny household worker..nagkaroon po ako ng f-1visa for 1 year naging tnt for 4 years nhuli po 2012 ask mag five years n po dto pinas pwede pa po ba ako mkblik…if ever mam pwede nio po b ako hanapan ng sponsor
Hi Rebecca! Policy ng immigration na hindi bigyan ng working visa pag may record sa immigration na nag-overstay. Pero subukan mo rin. Malay mo.
Hi Betchay! Nasa Ulsan ako last 2015. I was hired as private tutor and since may construction firm ang boss ko I was given a business visa which allowed me to stay for 90 days. Gusto ko pa sanang bumalik kaya lang paputol putol kasi kung every other 3 months lang visa. Can they hire me as their nanny instead? Thank you. God bless.