Government Extends Foreign Workers' Stay Period Again... Affecting 132,000 People

E-9, H-2 Visa Holders Mainly Work in Root Companies and Rural Areas
About 132,000 Extend Stay... "Alleviating Labor Shortage in SMEs"

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Junhyung] The government will extend the stay and employment activity period by one year for some foreign workers to alleviate labor shortages in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) caused by COVID-19. It is expected that about 132,000 foreign workers will benefit from this extension.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 28th that from next month 13th until December 31st, the stay and employment activity period of foreign workers whose visas expire will be extended. Earlier, the ministry approved this plan in writing at the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee on the 25th. The extension applies to foreign workers holding E-9 (non-professional employment) and H-2 (visiting employment) visas under the Act on the Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers, who mainly work in SMEs such as root companies or in rural and fishing villages.

The ministry has been extending the stay period of foreign workers since 2020 due to restrictions on foreign workers' entry and exit caused by COVID-19, which worsened labor shortages in SMEs and rural areas. However, in 2020, the stay period was extended by 50 days at a time, which caused confusion on-site. Therefore, since April last year, the ministry increased the extension period to one year.

Foreign workers receiving the extension for the first time can stay in Korea for one more year from the expiration date of their employment activity period. Foreign workers whose stay and employment activity period was already extended by one year can receive an additional 50-day extension only if their employment activity period expires between next month 13th and June 30th. However, those who have already received a one-year extension and would exceed a total stay of six years by receiving the 50-day extension are excluded.

The ministry expects that up to 132,000 foreign workers will be eligible for this measure. Among E-9 visa holders, 77,094 eligible workers will have their employment activity period uniformly extended. Among H-2 visa holders, 55,519 eligible workers will have their employment activity period extended after confirming legal employment status such as work commencement reports.

Foreign workers subject to this measure do not need to apply separately for the stay extension. However, employers must apply for the extension of the foreign workers' labor contract period and employment permit period. H-2 visa holders must have their employers obtain a special employment eligibility confirmation certificate, and either the employer or the worker must submit a work commencement report.

Minister of Employment and Labor Ahn Kyung-deok said, “We hope this measure will provide some help to SMEs and rural areas facing labor shortages,” and added, “We will closely cooperate with sending countries and related ministries to facilitate smoother entry of foreign workers.”

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