POEA Guidelines for Korean EPS Workers

Legal basis, coordination framework

The guidelines operate pursuant to an MOU between DOLE and Korea’s MOL dated October 20, 2006.
KLT administration is assigned to IKLF, accredited by MOL Korea.
Test dates and sites are determined by MOL Korea, in coordination with POEA.
Electronic transmission of qualified applicants’ profiles goes from POEA to HRD Korea, and HRD Korea provides confirmation of receipt and manages roster approval.
Visa issuance and immigration processing involve Korean Immigration and the Korean Embassy, with HRD Korea applying for visa issuance and POEA’s GPB facilitating the E-9 work visa request.

Policy intent and compliance posture

The guidelines require strict compliance with the recruitment, roster, testing, medical clearance, documentation, training, and visa workflow for EPS deployment.
The selection and deployment flow is structured around KLT qualification, medical clearance, electronic roster management, and controlled acceptance of employment offers.
The rules impose mandatory training completion and require time-bound action by applicants after receiving employment advice.

Definitions and scope of coverage

The guidelines govern recruitment and deployment of Filipino workers to Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) of Korea.
The provisions apply to EPS applicants registered with POEA, including applicants who pass the Korean Language Test (KLT).
The roster management system covers EPS registered applicants and later covers inclusion in the active roster of Filipino jobseekers for employer selection.
The guidelines also govern deployment documentation steps for selected workers receiving electronic employment offers.

Applicant registration requirements and validity

Applicants must meet the following qualifications: male or female; age not more than 38 years old; at least High School graduate; and relevant work experience (high school graduates: at least two (2) years; college graduates: at least one (1) year).
Applicants must be prepared to take and pass the Korean Language Test (KLT) and must be able-bodied and physically fit with no physical deformities and no vision/hearing impairment.
Applicants must not be restricted from departure from the Philippines (with no pending criminal or administrative records) and must not be restricted to enter Korea based on Korean Immigration records.
Applicants must submit the following documentary requirements: valid passport (xerox copy accepted upon presentation of original); original NBI clearance; 2x2 colored pictures (2 pcs.); copy/ies of employment certificate/s; and school diploma (photocopy accepted upon presentation of original).
Applicants must submit training/skills certification (optional), and must provide active contact numbers (landline, mobile phone numbers, and email address).
Applicants must register at all POEA offices (central/regional/satellite offices) or at offsite registration centers as authorized by POEA.
Registration system access is online at all registration sites, and applicants with complete requirements are included in the POEA-EPS database as of the date of encoding.
POEA assigns each registered applicant personal user identification data for access to the registration system, and the database is accessible online to registrants for validation and updating.
Applicants must update their profile online at least once every quarter (or as necessary for changes such as address/contact number and skills upgrading) and must submit supporting documents (i.e., certification).
Registration validity is one (1) year only, and applicants must monitor/update within this period at least once in three months; otherwise, their profiles are automatically moved to the inactive POEA EPS registry.

KLT administration and certificate validity

KLT is administered in the Philippines by IKLF as the test agency accredited by MOL Korea.
MOL Korea, in coordination with POEA, determines test dates and sites, which are announced and published in leading national and local newspapers and on the POEA website.
The POEA-EPS database of registered applicants is used to register KLT examinees based on MOL labor quota and the actual payment of examination fee.
The KLT examination fee is US$30.00, paid in Peso equivalent (based on the current foreign exchange rate) to the local bank account of IKLF.
KLT test results are announced within three weeks after the test and are published on the POEA website (//poea.gov.ph) and IKLF website (//glokorea.org).
Validity of EPS KLT certificates is two (2) years.

Medical clearance and roster transmission rules

Only applicants who passed KLT undergo medical tests within ten (10) days after the announcement of test results.
No employer’s waiver or other remarks are acceptable for medical findings of PTB, Hepatitis, and VDRL.
POEA electronically sends only the profiles of KLT passers with medical test clearance issued by DOH-accredited clinics to HRD Korea.
HRD Korea sends confirmation of receipt of transmitted profiles to POEA.
After HRD Korea approval, profiles are placed in the active roster of Filipino jobseekers for selection by registered employers, and workers’ profiles remain in the HRD Korea roster for one (1) year.
If a jobseeker is not selected within one (1) year from HRD Korea approval of inclusion in the roster, the applicant must re-apply to be included again in the active roster.

Employment offers, acceptance deadlines, and refusal limits

Employment offers for selected applicants are sent electronically by HRD Korea and downloaded by POEA via the EPS website on a daily basis.
Employment offers must include terms and conditions such as the name of employer, jobsite, contents of duty, and salary.
POEA immediately notifies applicants with employment offers through their registered contact numbers and through the list of selected applicants posted on the POEA website.
Selected applicants must report personally to POEA Government Placement Branch (GPB) within seven (7) days from receipt of advice or from posting of the list on the POEA website to signify acceptance or refusal.
Applicants may refuse an employment offer once for “incongruent work experience” and still remain in the active HRD roster.
Refusal of an employment offer for the second time causes delisting of the applicant’s profile from the EPS roster of jobseekers at HRD Korea.
Employment offers are valid only for two weeks from the date POEA receives HRD Korea’s notice; otherwise, HRD Korea automatically cancels the offer.

Training, contracting, and visa documentation

All EPS applicants who accepted employment offers must undergo prescribed preliminary training consisting of: Korean Language and Culture provided by TESDA, OWWA and POEA (20 hours; P400); Industrial Safety provided by OSHO (7 hours; P329); EPS Orientation provided by POEA free of charge (3 hours); and Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS) provided by OWWA free of charge (4 hours).
Training fees are paid to the corresponding training provider before the start of the training period.
Perfect attendance in all preliminary training modules is mandatory, and incomplete attendance prevents issuance of any certificate of completion.
POEA transmits the workers’ acceptance/rejection status to HRD Korea within two weeks upon receipt of the employment offer.
POEA downloads/prints only the Standard Labor Contracts (SLC) for workers who accepted the offer; the SLC bears the employer’s seal.
Upon a worker’s acceptance of the job offer, the employer applies for a work permit, and HRD Korea applies with Korean Immigration for visa issuance.
HRD Korea transmits an electronic Certificate of Confirmation for Visa Issuance (CCVI) to POEA after approval; the CCVI is valid for three (3) months only.
Workers must enter Korea within two (2) months from issuance of the CCVI.
Upon receipt of the CCVI, GPB on behalf of the selected workers applies with the Korean Embassy for issuance of an E-9 work visa, submitting: a medical certificate marked “Fit to Work” issued by any medical institution accredited by the Department of Health; and the following payments and documents:
- POEA processing fee: peso equivalent of US$50
- OWWA contribution: P1,275
- Philhealth Medicare premium: P900
- Visa Application Fee: P2,500
- Preliminary training Certificate of Completion
- Signed Standard Labor Contract
- Signed Visa Application form

Contract cancellation grounds and consequences

Employment contracts may be cancelled due to: delay in visa processing caused by the worker due to incomplete preliminary training, failure to pay processing fees including airfare, and medical reasons.
Contracts may also be cancelled by: withdrawal of worker for whatever reason.
Contracts may be cancelled by: cancellation by employer due to financial or management difficulties or hiring workers in excess of quota, resulting in disqualification of the employer by POEA.
Contracts may be cancelled based on worker misconduct: concealment/failure of the worker to disclose prior negative immigration records in Korea (including overstay, illegal entry, etc.).
If cancellation is attributable to the employer, the worker remains in the EPS roster and HRD Korea introduces the affected workers to other employers.
If cancellation is due to delay of entry and is addressed to HRD Korea’s satisfaction, the worker is reinstated in the EPS roster after one (1) year from deletion, subject to compliance with registration requirements.
If the cancellation is due to the worker’s withdrawal, the worker’s name is automatically deleted from the EPS roster of jobseekers.

Pre-flight, arrival processing, and roles in implementation

POEA conducts a Pre-flight for departing workers before departure, focused on airport procedures, assignment of team leaders, and travel guidance.
During pre-flight briefing, POEA distributes worker documents, plane tickets, uniforms, and Identification Cards.
Workers with confirmed bookings who fail to leave for the jobsite on scheduled flights bear the penalty imposed by the airline.
Upon arrival at the worksite, hired workers must undergo an on-site medical examination in Korea.
Workers who fail the on-site medical test are immediately repatriated.
The Employment Branch handles worker registration, KLT facilitation, and completion of profiles of all qualified Filipino applicants.
The Information and Communications Technology Branch prepares the applicant database using SPAS software provided by HRD Korea and ensures eventual electronic submission of complete worker information to HRD Korea through the EPS website.
The Government Placement Branch downloads the labor contract, documents selected workers, facilitates preliminary training with other agencies (TESDA, OSHO and OWWA), facilitates workers’ visa and final entry, and coordinates with POLO on welfare cases.