Filipino workers can look forward to more employment opportunities in South Korea upon the start of operations of its Inchon Free Economic Zone, a major Korean seaport near Seoul, a labor official said Tuesday.

Labor Assistant Secretary Reydeluz Conferido said 6,000 jobs are now available to unemployed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and those displaced by the global financial crisis in the host country.

“Half-a-million jobs would open soon at the export zone and our workers especially those retrenched by the crisis could take this opportunity to apply for vacancies there,” Conferido said at the sideline of kick-off event of Productivity Olympics.

DoLE has already sent a team to South Korea to negotiate with Korean authorities on the deployment of Filipino workers to Incheon ecozone that is emerging to become the center of international business, IT, biotechnology, logistics and tourism in Northeast Asia.

Labor officials also initiated talks with the Korean Ministry of Education on the prospect of sending Filipino English teachers to the host destination.

In an early interview, Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito Roque said the country is keen on renewing its participation in the Korean Employment Permit System (EPS) in view of its continuing preference for OFWs.

He cited the initiative of the South Korean government to rehire OFWs displaced by the global crisis for available new job openings under the said hiring scheme.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) advised Filipino travelers including OFWs bound to Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan must have a Jordan visa stamped in their valid passports prior to their departure.

“Visa Approval Notices from the Jordan Ministry of Interior will not suffice for travel to Jordan,” POEA advisory read.

POEA explained that visa upon arrival in the Kingdom of Jordan is no longer permitted for Philippine passport holders, unless it’s supported with proper documentation from the Honorary Consul.