POEA tells OFWs to Korea to provide true data

Korea uses biometrics to sift illegal workers

By Lilibeth A. French

Monday 2nd of July 2012

ILOILO CITY, July 2 (PIA) -- Filipinos who wish to work in the Republic of Korea were advised to make sure that all their personal data are not fraudulent to be able to enter the country.

Since January this year, Korea has reinforced its immigration control using the biometric technology.

Biometric data includes fingerprint, face, photo of all foreigners entering Korea are now collected and closely compared with the data of those who have a previous record of illegal stay or criminal record.

“We strongly recommend to those who are going to enter Korea to be well aware that the immigration control of Korea has been reinforced and not to listen to any untruthful statement from brokers that changing personal data would make the illegal workers pass through the immigration,” the president of the Human Resource Department (HRD) of Korea said, as posted on the website of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

According to the notice, if any workers’ admission has been rejected due to uncovered forgeries, the worker must go back to his/her home country and the rejected admission is recorded.

Workers who have previous record of illegal stay or have forged passport are advised to cancel their labor contract in advance to prevent further damage.

Moreover, jobseekers who have previous record of illegal stay though they passed the Employment Permit System-Test of Proficiency in Korean (EPS-TOPIK) and received labor contract will be rejected at the immigration control.

As of May 2012, using the biometrics, 332 persons were already refused admission to Korea mostly due to forged passport - the forgery was caught by the biometric data search. (JCM/LAF-PIA6)

ORIGINAL

ILOILO CITY, July 2 (PIA6) - - Filipinos who aspire to work in the Republic of Korea were advised to make sure that all their personal data are not fraudulent to be able to enter the country.
Since January this year, Korea has reinforced its immigration control using the biometric technology.
Biometric data that include fingerprint, face, photo of all foreigners entering Korea are now collected and closely compared with the data of those who have a previous record of illegal stay or criminal record.
“We strongly recommend to those who are going to enter Korea to be well aware that the immigration control of Korea has been reinforced and not to listen to any untruthful statement from brokers that changing personal data would make the illegal workers pass through the immigration,” said the notice from the President of the HRD of Korea posted on the website of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
According to the notice if any workers’ admission has been rejected due to uncovered forgeries, the worker must travel back to home country and the rejected admission is recorded and managed henceforth.
Workers who have previous record of illegal stay or have forged passport are advised to cancel their labor contract in advance to prevent further damage. Also, jobseekers who have previous record of illegal stay though they passed the EPS-TOPIK and received labor contract will be rejected at the immigration control.
As of May 2012, using the biometrics some 332 persons were already refused admission to Korea mostly due to passport forgery. The passport has been forged with another person’s data and passed the procedure documentation but the forgery was caught by the biometric data search. (JCM/LAF/PIA6)