SME Ombudsman Meets Jeonnam Small and Medium Enterprises to Discuss Regulatory Challenges and Solutions

S.O.S. Talk Roundtable Held in Mokpo
SME Ombudsman and Korea SMEs and Startups Agency Gather On-Site Voices
Calls for Improving Foreign Worker Matching and Easing Export Support Requirements

The Small and Medium Enterprise Ombudsman announced on June 12 that it held the 'S.O.S. Talk (Small and Medium Enterprise Roundtable)' at the Mokpo Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in cooperation with the Jeonnam Regional Headquarters of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency.

The roundtable was organized to listen to the on-site voices of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Jeonnam region and to seek ways to improve unreasonable regulations and address difficulties they face. More than 20 participants attended, including Choi Seungjae, the SME Ombudsman, representatives of SMEs in the Jeonnam region, Ban Jeongsik, Director of Regional Innovation at the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, Lee Byungpil, Head of the Jeonnam Regional Headquarters of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, and officials from the Gwangju-Jeonnam Regional Office of SMEs and Startups.

Choi Seungjae Ombudsman

At the roundtable, it was pointed out that foreign workers recommended through the employment permit system at shipbuilding companies in Daebul Industrial Complex, Yeongam County, are not suitable for the job characteristics, experience requirements, and skill levels demanded by companies, causing difficulties. Participants requested improvements to increase the foreign worker matching rate.The companies proposed the introduction of a function in the foreign worker employment management system to input job descriptions that include explanations of the duties to be performed by foreign workers, qualification requirements, and roles. They also suggested establishing a system to verify the authenticity of work experience submitted by recommended candidates.

In response, the relevant ministry stated that when companies submit job descriptions, foreign workers will be able to understand the duties they are expected to perform before entering the country, and that the authenticity of the submitted work experience will be verified by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea and reflected in the system.

Additionally, a seaweed processing company proposed easing the requirements for the Overseas Certification Registration Support Project for agricultural and food exporters, so that companies with export performance in the current business year can apply even if they do not have export records for the previous two years. In response, the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation replied that it would pursue institutional improvements to allow companies without export records for the previous two years, but with export performance in the current year, to apply.

Other participants also raised various on-site regulatory and practical issues, including: ▲ easing restrictions on the ratio of foreign workers when hiring outstanding overseas technical personnel; ▲ establishing the basis for a fact-finding survey to clarify courier fees in remote island and mountainous areas; and ▲ relaxing occupancy requirements for foreign investment zones.

Ban Jeongsik, Director of Regional Innovation at the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, said, "Going forward, we will continue to gather on-site difficulties and suggestions from companies and closely consult with the Ombudsman to support their sustainable growth." Choi Seungjae, the SME Ombudsman, also stated, "As the new government continues to emphasize the importance of regulatory innovation, we will further accelerate efforts to improve regulations in a way that can be felt in the field, by actively conveying the voices of SMEs and small business owners to relevant ministries and cooperating so that they can gain vitality and become a pillar of economic growth."

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