South Korea is set to increase its visa quota for non-professional foreign workers to a record high and expand the sectors in which they can work to alleviate chronic labor shortages due to the low birthrate and aging in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
The government on Monday decided to raise the quota of E-9 visas for unskilled foreign workers by 37.5% to 165,000 next year, the largest since the country started allowing local companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to hire non-professional foreigners in 2004.
The country is allocating 95,000 to the manufacturing sector, 5,000 to the shipbuilding industry, 16,000 to the agricultural sector, 10,000 to the fisheries industry, 6,000 to the construction sector and 13,000 to the service industry.
“The increase in E-9 visa issuances next year is expected to significantly contribute to resolving vacancies in jobs locals avoid,” said Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination Bang Ki-sun.
“Related ministries such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor need to seek measures to introduce foreign workers in a timely manner as industries with labor shortages are asking to allow more workers.”
Source: KED
