A man and his child enter a daycare center in Seoul, Feb. 14. Applications submitted by Seoul residents to hire Filipino caregivers have been “pouring in” since the first day of registration for the service, which will start as early as September, according to an official familiar with the issue, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Park Si-mon

Applications submitted by Seoul residents to hire Filipino caregivers, a service which will start as early as September, have been “pouring in” since the first day of registration, a source told The Korea Times, Thursday.

According to an official who has direct knowledge of the matter, more than 300 people have so far applied to use the service to be provided by 100 Filipino caregivers through a government-led program.

This pilot project, launched as part of the efforts to boost Korea's persistently low birthrate, aims to help Korean parents take care of their children at an affordable cost with the help of foreign workers. If successful in Seoul, the program is expected to expand to other cities and regions across the country.

Officials in the relevant organizations began taking applications on July 17. But within just a week, 300 households sent their applications. In theory, if all applicants are to use their services full-time — eight hours a day for five days a week — only 100 of them can be beneficiaries.

“This figure is far higher than our expectations,” the official said. “Given that we are still two weeks away from the deadline, we are expecting more applications to come in.”

By the registration deadline on Aug. 6, the number could well exceed 1,000 or even 2,000. According to the official, more than 1,500 mobile phone users have signed up for the two service firms' apps ― Daerijubu and Dorbomplus ― through which they can send their applications since the first day.

Any Seoul resident who has a child aged 12 or younger can apply. If applicants exceed available slots, priority beneficiaries will be single parents, parents with multiple children, dual-income families and expectant mothers.

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.

As intended for the program, most applicants are seeking help for taking care of their young children, the official said.

For their services, the Filipino workers will be paid Korea's legal minimum wage ― 9,860 won ($7.12) hourly this year and 10,030 won next year. This is lower than what is needed to hire Korean workers offering such services, which is about 15,000 won, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

In collaboration with authorities in the Philippines, Korea's central and city officials recently selected 100 workers, aged between 24 and 38, who met the health, language-proficiency and other requirements for the program. They are expected to arrive here in September.