Three Mandatory Insurance Policies for Foreign Seasonal Workers Implemented... 'Guidance Period' in Place Until Next February

Wage Arrears Guarantee Insurance, Agricultural and Fishery Worker Safety Insurance, and Accident Insurance

The government has decided to operate a one-year guidance period for the three mandatory insurance policies for foreign seasonal workers: wage arrears guarantee insurance, agricultural and fishery worker safety insurance, and accident insurance.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 19th that it will operate a guidance period for the three mandatory insurance policies for foreign seasonal workers until February 14, 2027.

The three mandatory insurance policies for foreign seasonal workers are a new system that has been implemented since February 15 this year under the amended Special Act on Support for Agricultural and Fishery Employment. From that day, farms that sign employment contracts and foreign seasonal workers must enroll in the mandatory insurance policies within the enrollment period set by the enforcement decree. If they fail to enroll within the deadline, they can be fined up to 5 million won.

However, taking into account that most of those subject to insurance enrollment are elderly farmers or foreign seasonal workers, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs decided to operate a one-year guidance period.

During the guidance period, the ministry will obtain written commitments to comply with insurance enrollment from agricultural employers and foreign seasonal workers so that they can clearly understand the insurance system. When applying for foreign seasonal worker quotas (twice a year), employers must submit a "commitment to comply with insurance enrollment" as a required document, and foreign seasonal workers must submit a "commitment to comply with insurance enrollment" and related documents in their home countries. The commitment states that they must enroll in the three mandatory insurance policies within the enrollment period, and that a fine of up to 5 million won may be imposed if they fail to do so.

In addition, all agencies involved in the seasonal worker program will cooperate to provide training and promotion on insurance enrollment to local governments, agricultural employers, and foreign seasonal workers. The Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will train local government officials on how to support and process insurance enrollment for farmers and foreign seasonal workers in the field, while local governments will provide year-round training and promotion on mandatory insurance enrollment for farmers employing foreign seasonal workers and for the workers themselves. Starting this year, the Ministry of Justice will also educate all foreign seasonal workers on mandatory insurance enrollment and claims through an early adaptation program.

Among the 189 Rural Manpower Brokerage Centers nationwide, centers located in regions that make heavy use of foreign seasonal workers will also promote the implementation of the mandatory insurance system and support mandatory insurance enrollment for farmers and foreign seasonal workers.

On-site services will also be strengthened during the guidance period so that elderly farmers and foreign seasonal workers can easily enroll in insurance. Insurance companies and local Nonghyup branches will support insurance enrollment for farmers and foreign seasonal workers in the field. Accident insurance companies will receive application documents directly from farmers and seasonal workers in their local areas, and dedicated counselors who are well-versed in the mandatory insurance enrollment procedures will be assigned to local Nonghyup branches.

Yoon Wonseop, Director-General for Agricultural Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "This three-part mandatory insurance system is a minimum safety device to protect farms and workers from unexpected risks such as accidents or wage arrears," adding, "We will spare no effort in providing support, including on-site briefings during the one-year guidance period, so that farmers and foreign seasonal workers can easily enroll in the insurance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.