The types of occupations in which E-9 workers can work continue to expand... Hotel and condominium businesses are also permitted.

The Korean government, which is struggling with a manpower shortage, continues to increase the number of occupations in which unskilled foreign workers (E-9 visas) can work. It was decided to allow E-9 workers to work in the hotel and condominium industry as cleaners and kitchen assistants. In addition, we decided to expand the number of manpower sending countries from the existing 16 to 17 by additionally designating Tajikistan as a new sending country.

The government held the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee on December 29 and confirmed the designation of new industries and new sending countries for foreign workers under the Employment Permit System (E-9 visa).

E-9 workers allowed to work in hotel and condominium industries

First, the government decided to allow the employment of foreign workers after conducting an on-site survey of the hotel and condominium industries, which had continued to complain of manpower shortages and requests to allow foreign workers in the industry. Accordingly, we plan to introduce the hiring of E-9 foreign workers on a pilot basis for cleaners and kitchen assistants in hotel and condominium companies (including hostels) located in major tourist areas such as Seoul, Busan, Gangwon, and Jeju. In addition, we decided to carry out job training and industrial safety training specialized for the relevant industry, and also pursue complementary measures for human resource management that take into account the characteristics of the employment permit system.

It is expected that foreign workers will be able to work in the hotel and condominium industry starting in 2024 after designation as a sending country, selection of personnel, and designation as an employment training institution.

Until now, E-9 foreign workers had no choice but to work in factories with poor environments, but as the number of occupations expands, the working environment is expected to improve somewhat.

Designated as a sending country for Tajikistan’s Employment Permit System

In order to supply manpower that meets industrial demands, the Korean government designated Tajikistan as the 17th Employment Permit System (E-9) sending country after conducting a field survey and other sending country suitability assessments. In Tajikistan, the government and public institutions are in full charge of transmission work, so it was evaluated that transparent transmission and publicness can be secured. In addition, it appears to have adequate transmission capabilities in terms of transmission infrastructure such as pre-entry training and selection tests, and its own measures to prevent illegal stay.

Tajikistan's E-9 foreign workers designated this time are scheduled to be introduced from 2025 through procedures such as signing an intergovernmental employment permit system MOU in 2024 and establishing a local EPS (Foreign Employment Management) center. In addition, in the future, we plan to receive applications from countries wishing to transmit the Employment Permit System and designate additional sending countries, thereby diversifying the sending countries and continuously expanding the sending infrastructure.

‘E-7-4 2024 Operation Plan’ discussed

On this day, the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee held the Foreign Workforce Integrated Management Promotion TF to inspect the current status of the greatly expanded skilled manpower (E-7-4) program this year and discuss plans for next year. The Ministry of Justice plans to announce the operation status of skilled workers in 2023 and the operation plan for 2024 early next year.

In response to the severe manpower shortage, the Korean government is actively promoting the smooth use of foreign workers, such as expanding the scale of introduction of foreign workers, early issuance of employment permits and rapid entry into the country, expansion of industries introduced, and doubling the foreign worker employment limit for each business site.

Mary Eve of Papaya Story