Number of foreign workers under Employment Permit System hits record high
The number of foreign workers staying in Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) reached a record high of 287,424 this year, data showed Wednesday. The EPS allows small and medium-sized businesses facing labor shortages to hire nonprofessional foreign workers, who are issued E-9 visas. According to the data submitted by the labor ministry to Rep. Kim Wi-sang of the main opposition People…
The number of foreign workers in Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) has reached a record high of 287,424, according to data released by the labor ministry. This figure represents a significant increase from previous years, with the number rising from 159,463 in 2021 to 287,424 in 2024. The EPS enables small and medium-sized businesses to hire nonprofessional foreign workers to address labor shortages, issuing E-9 visas to these individuals.
By industry, the manufacturing sector employs the majority of foreign workers under the EPS, accounting for 80% of the total at 229,844 workers. The agriculture and livestock sector follows with 33,878 workers, while fisheries employ 15,441 individuals, construction has 6,724 workers, and services have the smallest workforce with 1,410 foreign workers.
Rep. Kim Wi-sang of the main opposition People Power Party highlighted the need to reform the EPS due to the excessive concentration of E-9 visa holders in the manufacturing sector.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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