149 Employers Participating in Foreign Seasonal Worker Program Submit Collective Petition

Concerns Over Legal Penalties Despite Faithful Wage Payment
Farming Households Appeal for Livelihood Protection
Petition Submitted to Gangwon Branch of Ministry of Employment and Labor

On the 3rd, 149 employers who participated in the 2023-2024 Foreign Seasonal Worker Program submitted a collective petition to the Gangwon Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

149 employers who participated in the 2023-2024 Foreign Seasonal Worker Program submitted a collective petition to the Gangwon Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 3rd. Provided by Yanggu County

In the petition, the employers expressed significant concern that the amounts deducted from wages, which they believed were costs to be paid by the workers to their designated agents and which were transferred to a corporate account with the workers' consent, could lead to legal punishment for the employers. This concern arises from the fact that the employers were not fully aware of the nature of the process, yet may still be held responsible.

They particularly stated, "We are worried about being held legally responsible even though we paid wages faithfully," and appealed, "While we are willing to accept penalties that are within the capacity of farming households, please consider that measures such as restricting the employment of foreign workers or imposing excessive financial burdens could push many farms to the brink of giving up farming altogether."

An official from Yanggu County stated, "We will do our utmost to protect and uphold the rights and interests of both employers and workers so that neither side becomes a victim," adding, "We will take this case as an opportunity to thoroughly review the entire process of the system's operation and strengthen our management framework."