Foreign workers wearing the Vietnamese traditional hat ‘nón lá’ harvest potatoes in a rural village in Gangneung, Gangwon Province.
SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s government announced on Tuesday a sweeping overhaul of its employment permit system for foreign workers, pledging to relax restrictions on workplace changes and extend residency periods for those holding E-9 visas. The reforms also aim to tighten sanctions on employers found guilty of labor rights violations.
At a meeting in Seoul with officials from 17 provincial governments, the Ministry of Employment and Labor outlined measures designed to strengthen protections for migrant workers, who form a vital but vulnerable part of the country’s labor force.
Greater Mobility, Stronger Protections
Under current rules, E-9 visa holders can typically work at the same workplace for up to three years, with possible extensions tied to employer requests and, in some cases, re-entry after returning home. The new framework would allow them to remain in Korea for longer periods — potentially over a decade — without the requirement of departure and re-entry.
The government also pledged to loosen conditions under which migrant workers can change jobs, particularly in cases involving unfair treatment or hazardous conditions. At the same time, companies found to have committed rights violations will face tougher restrictions on hiring foreign labor.
The South Korean government is launching a pilot program to train foreign workers in their home countries before their employment in South Korea. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Support Systems and Oversight
Authorities said they would expand reporting channels, including weekly consultation days and a 24-hour multilingual AI labor-law counseling center, to ensure workers can easily report abuse. Vulnerable workplaces deemed at high risk for violations will be subject to intensified inspections.
In addition, the government promised broader integration measures, including job training, workplace safety initiatives and improvements to housing for migrant farm workers. Local governments were urged to take part, with examples from provinces like South Jeolla, which has launched on-site human rights education for employers, and Gyeonggi, which provides subsidies to improve working conditions.
Balancing Labor Needs and Rights
The initiative reflects South Korea’s struggle to reconcile its dependence on foreign workers with growing scrutiny over working conditions. An earlier attempt in 2022 to extend E-9 stays to more than 10 years collapsed amid partisan political disputes.
Vice Minister of Labor Kwon Chang-jun said the reforms were rooted in principle: “Foreign workers must be treated fairly and work in safe environments without discrimination. The government will continue to improve policies so their labor is valued and respected in Korean society.”
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
