Gwangju Employers Federation Calls for Improvement of Foreign Worker Employment Permit Visa Policy

The Gwangju Employers Federation has urged that the "improvement of the foreign worker system" be included as the fourth of the top ten presidential election pledges.

According to the Gwangju Employers Federation on May 15, the number of E-9 (Employment Permit System) visa applications by foreign workers has recently increased, expanding the scope of foreign worker employment. Due to policies promoting the expansion of foreign workers, both the role and proportion of foreign workers have risen sharply, with the number rapidly approaching 120,000.

With this increase, issues related to the rigid operation and strict regulatory management of the existing Employment Permit System have come to the fore. As a result, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission has recommended that the Ministry of Employment and Labor improve the system.

The Employment Permit System for foreign workers allows domestic companies that have made efforts to hire Koreans but failed to obtain employment permits from the Ministry of Employment and Labor to hire foreigners with non-professional employment (E-9) and working visit (H-2) status.

The Gwangju Employers Federation stated, "In the case of the E-9 visa, employment activities are guaranteed for three years after the initial entry. After the employment period expires, the employment period can be extended by one year and ten months with an extension confirmation issued by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, allowing a total of four years and ten months of employment." The federation emphasized, "If a special re-entry employment permit is obtained, it is possible to work for another four years and ten months after re-entering the country, making it possible to work for nearly ten years with an E-9 visa."

The federation continued, "However, the reality on the ground is different. In practice, there is no guarantee that foreign workers will be re-employed by their former small and medium-sized enterprises after re-entry, making the situation difficult." The federation explained, "Although the government has implemented measures such as easing restrictions on changing workplaces, ▲relaxing regulations on re-employment or extension, ▲and improving special provisions, these have mainly focused on protecting the rights and interests of foreign workers and on the efficient utilization of human resources."

Furthermore, the federation stated, "While the foreign worker employment permit system is a great help to small and medium-sized enterprises, it is of little significance if re-employment at the original SME is not possible after re-entry." The federation proposed, "Therefore, to ensure business stability and strengthen global competitiveness, a plan should be established to guarantee employment activities for five years after the initial entry, and to allow the employment period to be extended by five years with an extension confirmation issued by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, without requiring re-entry."