Ministry of Employment and Labor Discusses Integrated Residency…

With the number of migrant workers in Korea exceeding 1.1 million, the Ministry of Employment and Labor identified key challenges, including their vulnerability to violations of basic labor rights—such as wage arrears and workplace accidents—and gaps in support caused by the current system’s classification based on residency status. In response, the ministry formed the “Integrated Support Task Force for Foreign Workers” in December of last year, bringing together labor and management representatives, academics, field experts, and relevant government agencies to discuss improvement measures through February of this year.

The forum was held on Thursday, April 9, at 2:00 PM in the Royal Ballroom on the 2nd floor of the Royal Hotel; however, the press release listed the time as 2:00 PM on Thursday, April 9, and the date as the morning edition of Friday, April 10. The event overview indicated the date and time as Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM.

In his presentation, Professor Seol Dong-hoon of Jeonbuk National University proposed a “on-the-job training-based points system for transitioning to skilled workers,” which would allow non-specialized foreign workers to develop skills and transition into skilled positions. Professor Noh Yong-jin of the Seoul National University of Science and Technology proposed the establishment of three tracks for foreign skilled workers corresponding to unskilled, semi-skilled, and highly skilled positions, as well as the need to expand vocational training. Lee Kyu-yong, a senior research fellow at the Korea Labor Institute, cited an analysis of the current state of workplace transfers to highlight the need for restrictions on transfers within a certain period (1–2 years), incentives for working in unpopular industries or regions, measures to encourage long-term employment, and strengthened employment services.

Labor and management organizations and experts participating in the discussion agreed on the need to break down inter-ministerial barriers and establish an integrated residency support system that encompasses both residency assistance and skill development for foreign workers. Opinions diverged between labor and management regarding the direction for improving the workplace transfer system, while experts stated that balanced system improvements are necessary, taking into comprehensive consideration the protection of migrant workers’ rights, stable workforce management for small and medium-sized enterprises, and concerns about concentration in the Seoul metropolitan area. Based on the results of the task force discussions and the forum, the Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to develop an “Integrated Support Roadmap for Foreign Workers” in the first half of this year. Minister Kim Young-hoon stated that the ministry will establish an integrated support system to ensure that all migrant workers receive the necessary support, regardless of their residency status.

Source: Policy Briefing (korea.kr), Ministry of Employment and Labor, [https://www.korea.kr/briefing/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156753757&call_from=rsslink](https://www.korea.kr/briefing/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156753757&call_from=rsslink)