The Department of Labor and Employment of the Philippines urged Wednesday the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) not to overstay in South Korea to prevent possible reduction of quota being imposed by the host country for them.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Bandoz made the call after receiving a report from the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Korea and the Human Resource Development (HRD) Korea on the increase of illegal Philippine workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS) in that country.

"I appeal to our OFWs in Korea to preserve the positive image of the Filipino EPS workers for the Philippines to continue to enjoy a good share of the demand for foreign workers in Korea and not ruin the good chances of other Filipinos desiring to get good jobs under the EPS," she said.

Because of this negative development, Baldoz said she has directed the POLO in Korea and the Philippines, as well as the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) to immediately undertake measures or interventions to address this concern.

The Philippines has deployed some 30,000 workers to South Korea since 2004, mostly in its manufacturing sector.