Inadequate Quarantine Management in Foreign Dormitories... Joint Inspection of High-Density Residential Facilities Starting Next Month

Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Strengthens Quarantine Management in Foreign-Dense Facilities and Workplaces
"One in Three Foreign Worker Dormitories Found Vulnerable... Improvement Measures Taken"

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jae-gap visited Johung, a foreign employment workplace located in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, on the 9th and toured the site.<이미지:Yonhap News>

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] To strengthen quarantine measures for foreigner-dense facilities identified as vulnerable to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the relevant authorities have decided to conduct joint inspections starting next month. This decision comes as multiple deficiencies were found in foreign worker dormitory facilities that were previously inspected, indicating a high possibility of cluster infections.

At the meeting on the 26th, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters discussed and established additional measures for quarantine management in foreigner-dense areas. The Ministry of Employment and Labor, together with related ministries, inspected 493 foreign employment workplaces, checking the density and hygiene management of workplaces, dormitories, and shared facilities, as well as compliance with self-quarantine rules. The inspection revealed deficiencies in about one out of every three locations.

The inspections were divided by sector, including 336 manufacturing sites, 131 agriculture and livestock sites, and 26 fisheries sites. Many places failed to conduct proper fever checks or lacked adequate ventilation and disinfectant supplies. Overcrowded dormitories and unsanitary facilities were also identified. A total of 249 vulnerabilities were found across 167 workplaces and were ordered to be corrected. Additionally, quarantine conditions were checked at 7,499 workplaces within 365 foreigner-dense industrial complexes in cooperation with local governments, with deficiencies being addressed accordingly.

The government announced that by the 24th of next month, local governments will conduct voluntary inspections of all manpower offices, and unannounced inspections will be carried out at early-morning labor markets where many foreign workers gather. Furthermore, starting next month, joint inspections will be conducted nationwide on so-called "Beolzipchon" (Beehive Villages), foreigner-dense facilities where many undocumented foreigners reside, in cooperation with immigration offices, local employment and labor offices, local governments, and civic groups. According to the Ministry of Justice, Beolzipchon typically houses about 10 to 20 people per residence, living in close quarters with inadequate quarantine supplies, making them vulnerable.

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Accident Response Headquarters’ Quarantine General Division, stated at the regular briefing that "to identify and proactively address blind spots in social quarantine, on-site inspections of foreign workers’ living spaces and work environments are being conducted."

Among foreign workers who have entered the country, a total of 214 COVID-19 confirmed cases (from 11 countries, as of the 19th) have been recorded. Among workers holding the non-professional employment (E-9) visa managed by the Ministry of Labor, 42 cases from 4 countries have been confirmed. By country, there are 26 from Pakistan, 13 from Bangladesh, 2 from the Philippines, and 1 from Indonesia. Separately, as of the 22nd, 41 workers who re-entered the country after taking leave or changing workplaces were recorded, among whom 1 Indonesian was confirmed positive.

Yoon emphasized, "With the recent easing of lockdown measures abroad, the number of foreign workers entering our country is increasing. All recently confirmed imported cases have been identified during quarantine and isolation stages, preventing community spread."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.