Foreign Workers Unable to Leave Due to COVID-19 Gain Employment Opportunities in Rural Farming and Fishing Areas

Employment Activity Period Expired Workers Allowed Seasonal Agricultural and Fishery Work
Supporting Departure Maturity Insurance Collateral Loans for Living Expenses

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The government is providing seasonal agricultural and fishery employment opportunities and supporting living expense loans for foreign workers facing livelihood difficulties due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced in a press release that "foreign workers whose domestic employment period has expired but are unable to leave the country due to COVID-19 will be given the opportunity to work as seasonal workers in rural and fishing villages for up to three months."

This is the first measure implemented considering the livelihood difficulties of foreign workers, prepared jointly by related ministries including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

Foreign workers eligible to participate in seasonal agricultural and fishery work are those with a non-professional employment (E-9) visa who have worked for three years or four years and ten months, and whose stay period expired between April 14 and August 31 of this year.

This applies to workers who have received an extension of stay period ex officio from the Ministry of Justice within 50 days or those who have been granted a deferred departure deadline by the Immigration Office and are legally staying in the country.

However, illegal residents and those whose last workplace was in agriculture, livestock, or fishery are excluded from support.

The application period for seasonal work is from tomorrow (the 24th) until the 7th of next month. Foreign workers wishing to participate in seasonal work can apply through the Foreign Worker Employment Management System (www.eps.go.kr), visit the nearest employment center with their foreign registration card, or submit the seasonal work application form to the employment center via fax or email.

Information on local governments recruiting seasonal workers and application form templates can be checked and downloaded from the Foreign Worker Employment Management System (EPS) or the Ministry of Employment website.

Workers who apply for seasonal work will be assigned to farms or fisheries within the jurisdiction of each local government. After signing the labor contract, the Immigration Office of the Ministry of Justice will change the foreign worker’s visa status to Other (G-1) to permit seasonal employment.

After completing seasonal work and departing the country, re-entry with an E-9 visa status is possible. When taking the special Korean language test upon re-entry, additional points (10 points) will be awarded, along with priority placement benefits, and when converting to skilled worker status, additional points (1 to 3 points) will be granted.

To reduce the burden on foreign workers, the entire fee of 220,000 KRW required for visa status change and permission for employment outside the visa status will be waived.

This measure is temporary in response to the COVID-19 situation. Foreign workers should prepare for returning to their home countries while engaging in seasonal work activities.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Employment also supports living expense loans up to 50% of the accumulated insurance amount secured by the departure maturity insurance for foreign workers (E-9, H-2) who face livelihood difficulties after their employment period expires.

Foreign workers wishing to apply for loans secured by departure maturity insurance should prepare the relevant documents and apply through the foreign worker-exclusive insurance call center (02-2261-8400).

An official from the Ministry of Employment stated, "We will cooperate with related ministries and local governments to ensure that this measure effectively addresses both the livelihood issues of foreign workers and the labor shortage in rural areas."

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