Relaxation of Mandatory Inspections for Foreign Workers, Seoul City "Recommendation for Inspections at High-Risk Workplaces"

On the day of human rights violation controversy, Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters requests withdrawal of diagnostic test order... Seoul City accepts

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 19th that it will ease the mandatory COVID-19 testing measures for foreign workers to a "recommendation for high-risk workplaces." This administrative order was changed at the request of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters following protests from the British Embassy in Korea and others over human rights concerns.

On the same day, Seoul explained, "Following the request from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to withdraw the mandatory diagnostic testing order for foreign workers, the administrative order mandating diagnostic testing, which began on the 17th, will be changed to a 'recommendation for testing in high-risk workplaces.'"

Accordingly, Seoul recommended that foreign workers in close-contact, crowded, and enclosed working environments undergo testing by the 31st. Additionally, domestic workers employed at the same workplaces were also advised to get tested.

Seoul added, "Foreign workers in high-risk workplaces with 3M (close-contact, crowded, enclosed) working environments are recommended to receive COVID-19 diagnostic testing by the 31st."

Previously, Seoul had issued an administrative order mandating diagnostic testing for foreign workers from the 17th to the 31st. All foreign workers, regardless of registration status, were required to be tested, and employers were compelled to enforce this measure. In response, Simon Smith, the British Ambassador to Korea, expressed that Seoul’s recent mandatory testing measure for foreign workers was unfair.

Concerns were also raised in the political sphere. Lee Sang-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on Facebook, "This is an outrageous act of unjust racial discrimination against foreigners," adding, "It is a human rights violation that could bring international disgrace. The administrative order must be withdrawn immediately."

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