Government Extends Stay Period by One Year for Over 40,000 Foreign Workers with Expired Visas

Ministry of Employment and Labor & Ministry of Justice Announce on 17th
Results of Tripartite Consultations with Major Labor Unions, Korea Federation of SMEs, and Korea Employers Federation

Application to 26,000 E-9 and 13,000-17,000 H-2 Workers
Employment and Justice Vice Ministers Expect "Resolution of Field Difficulties"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government has decided to extend the stay period by one year for foreign workers whose stay in Korea expires between early next year and April 12. This measure was prepared after labor, management, and government officials put their heads together, considering the difficulties in entry and exit caused by the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

On the 17th, the government announced that it plans to extend the employment activity period by one year for foreign workers whose stay and employment activity period ends early next year. Foreign workers holding general foreign worker (E-9) and visiting employment compatriot (H-2) visas, whose qualification expiration dates fall between January 1 and April 12 next year, will be able to stay in Korea for an additional year. According to the government, the number of E-9 visa holders eligible for extension is expected to be 26,000, and H-2 visa holders between 13,000 and 17,000.

This decision came as a result of discussions by a working-level committee chaired by Park Hwajin, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, composed of directors from related ministries, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the Korea Federation of SMEs, the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), and public interest members. The government plans to finalize and implement the measure after deliberation at the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee meeting scheduled for the 28th, chaired by Koo Yooncheol, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination.

Vice Minister Park said, "Although the entry of foreign workers was normalized last November, the recent spread of the Omicron variant has forced a halt to the phased recovery policy (With Corona), putting foreign workers' entry at risk. Considering the current quarantine situation and labor shortages on the ground, we hope that extending the stay period of foreign workers by one year will alleviate the difficulties of foreign workers' departure and the manpower shortage faced by employers."

Vice Minister Kang Seongguk of the Ministry of Justice said, "It is regrettable that the worsening COVID-19 situation has increased difficulties at quarantine sites, and the disruption of foreign workers' entry has yet to resolve labor shortages in manufacturing and rural fishing villages. We hope this measure will ease the hardships on the ground even slightly, and we will work with relevant authorities to ensure the swift entry of foreign workers."

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