Children leave a day care center with their mother in Seoul, in this Jan. 30 file photo. Korean authorities said on Tuesday that they are set to take applications from Seoul citizens who wish to receive caregiving services provided by Filipinos, as 100 workers are expected to arrive here in September. Newsis

The government will take applications from Seoul citizens who want to receive caregiving services provided by Filipinos, as 100 workers are expected to arrive here in September, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Tuesday.

Officials said they will receive applications from Wednesday to Aug. 6 through the mobile apps of two service firms — Daerijubu and Dorbomplus.

This pilot project, launched as part of the state efforts to boost the nation's persistently low birthrate, aims to help Korean parents take care of their children at an affordable cost with the help of foreign workers.

Any Seoul resident who has a child aged 12 or younger can apply. If too many parents apply, priority beneficiaries will be single mothers or fathers, parents with many children, dual-income families and pregnant women, officials said.

The Filipino workers on E-9 visas will be tasked primarily with taking care of children such as feeding, dressing and bathing among others. They may also assist in other duties “necessary and desirable” such as light household management activities.

They have been contracted to work for six months while staying in, if they want, designated accommodations for them in the city. If successful, the project is expected to expand further to other cities and regions.

In collaboration with authorities in the Philippines, Korea's central and city officials recently selected 100 workers, who met the health, language-proficiency and other requirements for the program.

One of the most heated issues in Korea in regard to the program was whether the Filipino workers should be guaranteed the minimum wage, with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and other politicians rejecting the idea amid public calls for a different wage system for foreigners.

But the Minimum Wage Commission recently decided to maintain the status quo, meaning that the workers would be paid 9,860 won ($7.12) hourly for their services this year and 10,030 won next year.