PETITION AGAINST THE SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND SOUTH KOREA

We, the undersigned Filipino workers in South Korea, oppose the Social
Security Agreement between the Philippines and South Korea.

The said Social Security Agreement was signed without proper consultation
to all concerned Filipino workers in South Korea.

Once approved, the Agreement will take away a major benefit being
enjoyed by Employment Permit System (EPS) workers under the National Pension
Law of Korea, that is, the 50% employer’s share in their pension contribution.

The Agreement will also prevent EPS workers and professionals/special

skills from receiving the lump sum refund of their monthly contribution when they
leave Korea. They will have to wait until they reach the age of retirement even if
they need the refund money for their livelihood when they return to the
Philippines.

The following table shows the negative effects of the Agreement on the
benefits currently being enjoyed by Filipino workers under the National Pension
Scheme (NPS) Law of Korea:

NATIONAL PENSION LAW OF SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT OF

SOUTH KOREA PHILIPPINES AND SOUTH KOREA

EPS workers and professionals/special EPS workers are excluded from the coverage
skills are covered by the National of the NPS. Professionals/special skill workers
Pension System (NPS) of Korea. will continue to be covered.

Employers shoulder 50% of the Employers of EPS workers will no longer

workers’ pension contribution (or contribute to the workers’ pension.
4.5% of the workers’ monthly
salary/income).
EPS workers’ contribution (9% of their EPS workers will pay their contribution
salary, including employers share) is (without employer’s share) to the SSS
paid to the NPS. mandatorily under the concept of voluntary
membership. Currently, no Philippine law
that obliged an OFW to become an SSS
member mandatorily so it is a clear violation
to our Philippine constitution.

When they leave Korea, workers (EPS,
professionals/special skills) receive
lump sum refund of their monthly
pension contribution.
Workers have to wait until they reach the
age of retirement before they can receive the
lump sum refund or pension. This includes
their contribution to the NPS before the
effectivity of the treaty.

In view of its clear disadvantage to the Filipino workers as shown above, we

respectfully ask our esteemed senators to reject the Agreement on Social
Security between the Philippines and South Korea.

We strongly urge the Social Security System and all concerned agencies to
renegotiate the Agreement to include EPS workers in its coverage. By doing so,
EPS workers will continue to be covered by the NPS while they work in Korea,
and their employers will continue to pay their 50% share in the workers’ pension
contribution.

The renegotiation must also provide an option to all Filipino workers who want to
get their lump sum refund when they leave Korea similar to the foreign workers
from USA, Canada, Hungary, Germany, and France wherein their respective
countries had also signed the same agreement between Korea.

Signed this 12th day of October 2008 at 115-9 Songbuk-gu, Songbuk-dong,

Songbuk Villa, Seoul, South Korea 136-020. Tel. Nos. (82)10-9294-4365, (82)10-
8688-2059, (82)2-765-0870.

The Undersigned (Please refer to separate sheets)