The Cabinet on May 6 voted to exempt short-term seasonal workers from abroad on the E-8 work visa from paying for long-term geriatric care insurance. Shown are such laborers at a cornfield in Goesan-gun County, Chungcheongbuk-do Province. (Goesan County Office)

By Margareth Theresia

Foreign seasonal workers on the E-8 visa from May 13 can opt out of getting long-term insurance for geriatric care, a move that will ease the premium burden for both the laborers and their employers.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare on May 6 said the Cabinet in a meeting approved an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Long-term Care Insurance Act for the Elderly allowing the exemption.

Before the revision, subscribers to national health insurance regardless of nationality had to enroll in long-term insurance for elderly care. The latter is a social insurance that provides services for physical activity and daily living support to people who find it difficult to perform daily tasks independently due to old age or age-related conditions.

What led to the amendment was repeated criticism that foreign seasonal workers were highly unlikely to benefit from such insurance despite paying for it, as their age limit is 19-55 and their period of stay is capped at eight months. Another gripe was the requirement that their employers pay half of the premium, something that fueled higher labor costs.

To take effect on May 13, the exemption will apply to all foreign seasonal workers who subscribe to health insurance. Those who wish to opt out of long-term geriatric care insurance can visit a branch of the National Health Insurance Service and submit an application.

margareth@korea.kr