The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 22nd that it will accept new employment permit applications for foreign workers under the employment permit system from July 7 to 18 at local employment and labor offices nationwide. The employment permit system allows small and medium-sized enterprises that cannot find domestic workers to hire foreign workers who have received a non-professional work visa (E-9) with government approval.
This year's third round of new employment permits is for 18,054 people. The manufacturing sector accounts for 13,062 people, agriculture and livestock for 1,878, fishing for 1,662, the service industry for 596, shipbuilding for 500, and construction for 356.
If there is excess demand by industry, about 32,000 people from the flexible allocation will be utilized.
Starting from this third round, foreign employment in hotel and condo businesses will also be possible in Gyeongsangbuk-do, following Seoul, Gangwon, Jeju, and Busan. In addition, foreign workers under the employment permit system will also be allowed to perform restaurant serving and parcel sorting duties.
In addition, companies that have been consistently contracted for cleaning services with hotel and condo businesses for a certain period can also utilize foreign workers.
Employers wishing to hire foreign workers can apply for an employment permit by visiting the relevant local employment and labor office after making efforts to recruit domestic workers for seven days or through the 'Employment 24' website.
The application results will be announced on August 4.