Kim Han-gil "Strengthening Safety Measures for Migrant Workers... Need to Revise Employment Permit System" (Comprehensive)

National Integration Committee Proposes Strengthening Safety for Migrant Workers
Employment Permit System Needs Revision... Visa System Improvement Required

Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee, is delivering a greeting at the Migrant Workers Coexistence Special Committee Performance Report Meeting held on the morning of the 23rd at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. (Photo by National Integration Committee)

Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on National Integration, proposed strengthening safety measures for migrant workers, stating, "There should be no discrimination between nationals and migrants regarding safety issues."

On the 23rd, at the policy proposal presentation of the Special Committee on 'Coexistence with Migrant Workers' under the National Integration Committee held at the Government Seoul Office, Chairman Kim said, "Following the fire accident in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, which claimed many migrant workers, criticism has been raised that goes beyond 'outsourcing of risk' to 'migration of risk.'

Chairman Kim emphasized, "Migrant workers have already become a common concern in many countries, and Western societies that started migrant policies earlier are struggling with issues surrounding these policies," adding, "We have maintained national competitiveness without experiencing such pains until now, but it is time to seek solutions from a new perspective."

He continued, "Various systems related to migrant employment, such as the 'Employment Permit System' established 20 years ago, which no longer fit the times, need proper revision now," explaining, "The overall visa system, which is currently excessively segmented and can act as a regulation, also needs improvement."

Chairman Kim stated, "It is time to contemplate and strive to create a dignified society where migrants grow together as 'our new community,'" adding, "To draw a grand blueprint for such immigration policies, it is essential first to have thorough support from related statistics and status analysis data."

On this day, the Special Committee recommended that each central government ministry, local government, and public institution incorporate safety measures for migrant workers when establishing safety management plans and proposed strengthening safety measures for migrant workers within safety management systems of major industries vulnerable to safety accident risks, such as chemicals, construction, and agriculture.

In particular, special safety inspections are to be conducted targeting migrant-dense and small-scale workplaces, and safety education should be expanded to all migrant workers regardless of nationality or visa type.

Additionally, to ensure accurate delivery of safety education content, safety training should be conducted concurrently in the native languages of migrants, and the active utilization of migrant instructors was proposed.

The Special Committee explained the need to improve the migrant worker supply system and prepare measures to attract overseas talent.

Based on demand surveys by relevant ministries, the scale of migrant worker demand should be calculated and linked to necessary work visas to establish an integrated supply system for migrant workers, and the national statistical system and regional statistical bases related to migrant workers should be organized and prepared.

Furthermore, in line with increasing labor demand, the committee proposed expanding support for Korean language education for overseas Koreans (F4 visa holders) and Koryo-saram (ethnic Koreans from the former Soviet Union).

They emphasized expanding the fast track for overseas outstanding talent by shortening visa screening periods and creating separate visas, and allowing industry associations or organizations to participate in visa recommendations.

Moreover, the Special Committee presented measures to reduce illegal employment and work of migrant workers.

They proposed conducting a survey on the status of migrant worker brokerage and mediation to prepare management plans for illegal employment and suggested concurrently improving systems to reduce illegal employment and work through the foreigner online civil service ‘Hi Korea.’