[2021 National Audit] Rep. Sobyeongcheol: "Urgent Foreign Workforce Supply Measures Needed for Labor-Short Rural Areas"

Foreign Worker Unauthorized Absence: Need to Reconsider Sanctions Policy for Farms and Fisheries

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Democratic Party lawmaker So Byung-chul (Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, Gurye Gap, Judiciary Committee) conveyed the serious situation of labor shortages in rural fishing villages and the difficulties faced by farmers at the Ministry of Justice’s national audit the day before, urging the prompt establishment of solutions to allow foreign workers to legally reside and work in accordance with the realities of rural fishing villages, he announced on the 6th.

Lawmaker So appealed that these days, farming cannot be done without foreign workers in rural areas and mentioned the reality of rural fishing villages increasingly dependent on foreign labor, saying, “Brokers who connect farming and fishing households with illegal foreign workers are rampant, exploiting this situation.”

Currently, in rural fishing areas, after COVID-19 restricted the entry and exit of foreign workers, the labor shortage has become severe. Labor brokers, who previously only charged illegal foreign workers about 300,000 KRW as referral fees, have started charging about 300,000 KRW per foreign worker from domestic farming and fishing households as well, causing the illegal labor market to expand.

Regarding this, Lawmaker So stated, “The current foreign worker system in rural fishing villages does not secure workers in a timely manner according to reality,” and added, “This is likely a major cause of the increase in illegal brokerage.”

Additionally, Lawmaker So pointed out the irrationality of the system that penalizes farming and fishing households when foreign workers leave without permission due to personal misconduct.

He expressed, “It is strange to impose penalty points on farmers for poor management responsibility when foreign workers leave without permission,” and urged, “We need to fundamentally reconsider and review this.”

In response, Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye said, “I am well aware of the difficult situation in rural areas,” and “I will review it.”

Meanwhile, ahead of this national audit, Lawmaker So Byung-chul has been cooperating with lawmakers Seo Sam-seok (Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs Committee, Yeongam, Muan, Sinan) and Ahn Ho-young (Environment and Labor Committee, Wanju, Jinan, Muju, Jangsu) to solve the rural fishing labor supply issue through inter-ministerial linkage and cooperation.

Lawmaker So, together with Seo Sam-seok and Ahn Ho-young, proposed establishing a basic plan to build a comprehensive rural fishing employment support system as a mid- to long-term measure, and as a short-term emergency measure, suggested ▲expanding the scale of seasonal workers and employment permit system introduction in agriculture and fisheries (Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Employment and Labor).

He also proposed ▲designing and operating a segmented foreign worker system tailored to the characteristics of products and farming and fishing households (Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) ▲significantly expanding rural labor brokerage centers (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) ▲introducing a dispatched worker system in agriculture and fisheries (Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Employment and Labor, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries) ▲allowing seasonal work for domestic international students (Ministry of Justice) ▲permitting simultaneous receipt of unemployment benefits and partial wages in agriculture and fisheries (Ministry of Employment and Labor).

Furthermore, they agreed to cooperate to lead the formation of a government-wide task force and actively consult with the government to respond proactively to rural fishing labor issues.

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