The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Mon, July 4, 2022 | 12:56
Migrant Workers Will Get Eased Visa Rules
Posted : 2009-12-09 18:17
Updated : 2009-12-09 18:17
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter

From Thursday, migrant workers with E-9 visas and ethnic Koreans with H-2 working-visitor visas will be able to stay here for up to five years without a mandatory departure from the country to extend their residence, the Ministry of Labor said Wednesday.

The government also said workplace changes for E-9 visa holders that are inevitable as a result of either permanent or temporary closure of their latest office would not be counted in the maximum number of job changes, set at three, during the entire period of their residence here.

It said a law including the changes will go into effect starting today. The National Assembly approved the law in September.

The amendment was made in response to requests from owners of small- and medium-sized workplaces, which say renewing the visas is a waste of time and money, and counting a workplace change driven by factors beyond their control was irrational.

"This will help not only foreign employees but also Korean employers,"said Kim Yoon-hye, a labor ministry official.

"Korean employers can work with skilled migrant workers longer than before, which will help them save costs that would have been needed to train newcomers, while migrant workers can save time and money by not having to leave the country to extend their stay."

Previously foreign employees invited by Korean companies on E-9 visas could stay here for up to three years. After three years, they had to go overseas for at least one month to get their visas renewed to continue working for their Korean employers for two more years.

Ethnic Koreans with H-2 visas have had no opportunity to extend their stay, once their three-year residence expired, meaning they have had no choice but to leave the country three years after their arrival on the visa.

"The Ministry of Justice strictly controls the number of the visas issued so as to prevent an undue influx of ethnic Koreans, mostly from China and Russia, into the domestic labor market," she said.

Many workers and Korean employers supported the revision, saying it will help reduce the cumbersome tasks involved in both extending and renewing visas.

Pro-migrant worker activists claim more opportunities to change workplaces should be given, saying setting a maximum number is problematic.

``To attract more talented foreigners, Korean employers tend to exaggerate the working environment," an activist said.

pss@koreatimes.co.kr
 
LG
  • Declining approval rating feared to dampen Yoon's political drive
  • Korea's bio industry at turning point after pandemic
  • Can Chinese demand cushion blow of US recession on Asian economies?
  • Concerns grow over COVID-19 resurgence
  • More than six out of 10 South Koreans willing to fight for country
  • Umbrella union stages massive rallies in Seoul amid scorching heat
  • Not just another crypto-bubble
  • Inflation expected to accelerate further in 2nd half
  • Japanese media focuses on Yoon's 'sales diplomacy'
  • N. Korea lashes out at closer security ties among S. Korea, US, Japan
  • Cha Eun-woo eyes starring role in 'K-Pop: Lost in America' Cha Eun-woo eyes starring role in 'K-Pop: Lost in America'
  • BTS' J-Hope tops iTunes charts in 84 countries BTS' J-Hope tops iTunes charts in 84 countries
  • Moon Geun-young to make directorial film debut at BIFAN Moon Geun-young to make directorial film debut at BIFAN
  • Lee Jung-hyun returns to big screen after childbirth Lee Jung-hyun returns to big screen after childbirth
  • BLACKPINK's 'Ddu-du Ddu-du' sets YouTube views record for K-pop group BLACKPINK's 'Ddu-du Ddu-du' sets YouTube views record for K-pop group
DARKROOM
  • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

  • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

  • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

  • Poor hit harder by economic crisis

    Poor hit harder by economic crisis

  • Roland Garros 2022

    Roland Garros 2022

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group