Vietnamese workers entering at Incheon Airport (South Korea). Photo: Anh Nguyen - Vietnam News Agency in South Korea

On June 11, the Foreign Labor Support Center in Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam Province, South Korea, in coordination with the Labor Management Office under the Employment Permit System (EPS) program, organized a meeting to provide advice, updates, and enhance legal knowledge for Vietnamese workers residing and working in Changwon City, Gyeongsangnam Province - located in the southeastern part of South Korea. The meeting is part of a series of activities aimed at strengthening management and support for workers during their employment and stay in South Korea, as well as ensuring compliance with regulations when returning to their home country.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Pham Minh Duc, Head of the EPS Office in South Korea, conveyed useful information to Vietnamese workers regarding their connection with the EPS, immigration declaration requirements, regulations regarding deposits for EPS workers, procedures for changing visas, various types of insurance, and policies applicable to workers overstaying their residency.

In particular, regarding the new policies of South Korea concerning Vietnamese workers, Mr. Duc emphasized that businesses with less than 5 employees in the agricultural and fisheries sectors are required to contribute to the Occupational Safety and Health Insurance.

Expanding the scope of work permits for foreign workers, including waste collection, transportation, and processing; recycling of materials; food and tobacco raw material brokerage; trading in fresh food and prepared food; and air and road cargo handling. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees can increase the number of foreign workers by an additional 20% of the total number of recruits (for example, if 10 workers are recruited, an additional 2 workers can be hired).

The policy extends the work period for EPS workers to 10 years. Accordingly, foreign workers holding E-9 visas (for general workers) in South Korea have the potential to become skilled foreign labor when they meet the requirements for the duration of employment in a company, possess specific vocational skills, and have proficiency in the Korean language.

During the meeting, Vietnamese workers also received direct advice and information dissemination from the officials of the Foreign Labor Support Center in Changwon City regarding working and living conditions in South Korea. They also updated their knowledge of financial and banking matters related to Vietnamese workers under different visa categories and had their questions and concerns addressed regarding their living and working experiences in South Korea.

Sharing with Vietnam News Agency correspondent in South Korea, Mr. Jin Jong-sang, the Director of the Foreign Labor Support and Counseling Center in Changwon City, stated that the center is currently providing support to all foreign workers in various aspects.

Mr. Jin Jong-sang noted that most Vietnamese workers are diligent, honest, and straightforward. Therefore, the employers who hire Vietnamese workers in this area have a great deal of trust in them and employ a significant number of Vietnamese workers. However, the issue of illegal labor remains a pressing concern that needs attention and resolution.

With the active participation of the Foreign Labor Support and Counseling Center in Changwon City, a large number of Vietnamese workers in the area attended the event and raised many questions to directly address their concerns to the legal counseling organizers.