The South Korean government plans to discuss a measure that involves expanding the number of countries subject to the employment permit system in 2024 to ease labour shortages in key industry sectors.
According to sources from the government, the ministry of employment and labour will hold a meeting with relevant government agencies as early as this week to discuss expanding the list of labour-sourcing countries for the country’s employment permit system to 17 countries from the current 16.
A neighbouring country in Asia may be added to the list.
Officials are also expected to discuss allowing the hotel and condominium industry to hire foreign workers on non-professional employment (E-9) visas.
The Korean government has been operating the employment permit system since 2004, allowing small and medium-sized enterprises that struggle to hire local workers to legally employ unskilled foreign workers.
The workers receive E-9 visas and are allowed to work only in industries such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture, fisheries, and construction waste disposal.
The supply of unskilled foreign workers is currently limited to countries designated by the government. – Pulse/Maeil Business News Korea & mk.co.kr
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