[Unofficial Korean-English translation provided by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

"Government restricts migrant workers' move starting with September arrivals," 5 July 2023

Starting in September, the government will allow foreign workers who entered the country on unskilled work visas (E-9 visas) to change workplaces only within the region where they first started working to prevent labor drain. Local governments that provide public dormitories for foreign workers will also be rewarded by raising their employment quotas.

[...] Under the new policy, foreign workers entering the country from September will only be able to change workplaces within certain regions, including the Seoul Metropolitan Area, Chungcheong Province, Jeolla Province, and Jeju Province, and industries. Previously, foreign workers were allowed to move across the country if they were in the same industry, which led to some foreign workers moving to the Seoul metropolitan area, causing a large outflow of workers from rural areas. The new policy also establishes a special permit for long-term employment, which allows foreign workers to continue working without having to return to their home country after their visa expires if they work at the same workplace for a certain period of time, to encourage foreign workers with high work skills to work for a longer period of time.

[...] According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the rate of foreign workers switching from one workplace to another within a year of entering the country is 31.5 percent. Employers will also be able to receive a history of workplace changes due to worker responsibilities such as work negligence.

[...]