A Filipino caregiver holds a baby at her workplace in Seoul, in this September 2024 photo. The government on Friday decided to extend E-9 visas for the caregivers who wish to continue to work here after the end of the program later this month. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

The government has decided to extend visas for Filipino caregivers who wish to continue to work here after the pilot program to introduce foreign nannies for Seoul parents ends later this month, according to officials on Friday.

At a meeting of relevant organizations presided over by the Office for Government Policy Coordination, it approved a proposal to give Filipinos one more year to work as caregivers in the city so that parents using their services can continue to hire them, considering the high satisfaction level of the users.

The decision was announced as the six-month pilot program, initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Employment and Labor to help boost Korea's low birthrate, is set to end on Feb. 28.

Their E-9 visa will be extended for a total of 36 months, including the seven months they have spent here since their arrival in August, if they wish. But the government has not come up with clear plans about whether they can continue to work during the remaining 17 months if their additional one year of services in Seoul end.

Currently, 98 Filipino caregivers work for some 180 households.

According to officials, most of the caregivers are expected to stay in Seoul, with only "four to seven" expressing their desire to return to their country.

The workers will be allowed to have more autonomy amid concerns about their human rights.

Since they arrived in Korea in August 2024, the workers have used shared accommodation near Yeoksam Station in southern Seoul. Many of them have complained that the rent cost — more than 510,000 won ($355) a month, including VAT — is too high.

From March, they will be allowed to choose their accommodations freely. According to city officials, only about 35 workers will continue to use the current facility.

Since the launch of the policy, there have been complaints about the higher-than-expected cost of their services, with the initial plan to pay them less than the minimum wage derailed by opposition lawmakers and Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo.

From March, labor expenses will increase further from 13,940 won per hour to 16,800 won as it will have to cover mandatory insurance fees as well as service operating costs. To help the service users cover the extra charges, the city government said it will offer a 700,000-won voucher every year for low-income households with children under 12.

"The cost of the severance pay for the workers will be additionally included as their working period will exceed one year," a city official told reporters. "The minimum operating cost for the service will also be charged as the participating private firms will no longer cover it after February."

The government had planned to expand the foreign nanny program nationwide and invite 1,200 workers early this year from more partner countries. But that plan has now been officially delayed.

Policymakers worry that the increased cost will further sap demand for the services. The ministry said demand for foreign caregivers was fewer than 1,000 nationwide, according to its latest survey conducted in December 2024.

"We will come up with policies to address the issue of the high child care cost, through talks with all related ministries," Bang Ki-sun, chief of the policy coordination office, said.