This year marks the 21st anniversary of the introduction of the employment permit system, and Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon said, "We will respond to human rights violations against foreign workers with a principle of zero tolerance." The employment permit system allows small and medium-sized enterprises that cannot find domestic workers to hire non-professional foreign workers (E-9), and currently, 17 countries are designated as sending countries.
On the 6th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) held the '2025 Employment Permit System (EPS) Conference' at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, discussing improvement measures for the employment permit system with ambassadors from sending countries and over 100 labor and management officials.
At this event, Minister of Labor Kim Young-hoon stated, "Creating an environment in which foreign workers can guarantee their rights and work under equal conditions without discrimination is the most important principle." He added, "We will firmly respond to human rights violations with a zero tolerance principle so that foreign workers can receive fair treatment and strengthen safety management and prevention systems for a safe workplace."
He continued, "We will establish a support system that comprehensively provides working conditions, industrial safety, and employment services for all working foreigners," and emphasized, "We will ensure that we do not neglect support for daily life, such as improving living conditions and counseling on grievances."
During the event, foreign workers and employers selected as excellent cases of participation in the employment permit system were rewarded. The Labor Minister's award was presented to the Uzbekistan worker Mr. Akbar and the representative of Songun Industry, who were selected as the best case. The board chairperson's award from the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) was given to 20 individuals, including Huang Chao Ying (China) and the representative of Lee Hyuk-jae Farm, who were selected as excellent and commendable cases.