Foreign workers’ quota to rise next year

The nation will issue 62,000 foreign workers permits next year, up by 5,000 from this year’s quota, to meet growing labor demand here.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced next year’s foreign workforce quota Thursday after a meeting of related ministers.

“We’ve decided to increase the quota to relieve labor shortages in the manufacturing sector. We decided about three months earlier than usual, so that we can begin hiring workers as early as possible,” Yim Jong-ryong, a minister at the PMO, said.

According to the plan, a total of 62,000 migrant workers will be allowed to work here on E-9 visas. The number reflects the vacancies expected when 39,000 employees return home by the end of the year following their visa expiration, plus additional demand.

Of the quota, 52,000 positions were allocated for newcomers, and the remaining 10,000, for those who have previously worked here. The majority of them will be in the manufacturing sector, while the remainder will work in the agricultural, livestock and fishing industries.

In a separate quota for foreigners of Korean descent who are given H-2 visas, mostly ethnic Korean-Chinese, the government has decided to keep the same number as this year, 303,000.

“Considering the current labor shortage, we’ll begin issuing working permits next month, so that part of the 2013 quota can enter the country before January 1,” Yim said.
The government will also allow small companies with less than 10 employees to hire up to three foreign workers, up from the current two.

It will also come up with measures to protect migrant workers’ rights, supporting their life here and resolving unfair treatment by employers.

“We’ll support companies hiring foreign workers according to the law, while sternly punish those illegally using foreign employees,” Labor Minister Lee Chae-pil said. <The Korea Times/Kim Rahn>

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