Foreign housekeepers participating in a government pilot project in Seoul faced issues of being underpaid and given extra duties beyond their agreements, a recent survey revealed. Launched in September 2024 by the Seoul metropolitan government, the program allowed around 100 individuals, mainly from Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, to work as housekeepers in over 150 households in the city.
The initiative, which concluded in December the following year, aimed to address the scarcity of local maid workers and provide support for women to sustain their careers, as per reports from Yonhap news agency. Survey findings indicated that participants received an average monthly wage of 1.92 million won (US$1,303) during the initial six months of the project.
Comparatively, this amount was significantly lower than the average monthly earnings of South Koreans in 2024, which stood at 3.74 million won. After accounting for various expenses like accommodation and insurance, the net monthly income for the housekeepers was only 1.18 million won, as per the survey results.
Some respondents highlighted instances where they were asked to perform tasks outside their job descriptions, such as washing dishes, pet care, and providing English tutoring to children. Professor Lee Mi-ae from Jeju National University, who led the survey, emphasized the need to reassess the value of childcare, acknowledge the economic importance of housekeeping work, and promote a positive cycle of offering quality housekeeping services and employment opportunities.
The survey, conducted on 21 Filipino housekeepers in their 20s and 30s along with two translators, took place between April and May the previous year. The findings were published in a journal by the Korea Association for Immigration Policy and Administration.
