The Ministry of Justice this month will raise the quota for foreign skilled workers (E-7-4 visa) to 50% in agriculture, livestock and fisheries to up to 50%. Shown are farmers and foreign workers on March 10 planting potatoes at fields in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province. (Yonhap News)

By Aisylu Akhmetzianova

The quota for foreign skilled workers (E-7-4 visa) in agriculture, livestock and fisheries from this month will be raised to up to 50% to alleviate labor shortages in the three sectors.

The Ministry of Justice on June 1 announced this as part of its plan to improve the skilled workforce system.

The hiring of such laborers had been capped at 30% of a workforce but will rise to 50% in agriculture, livestock and fisheries under a special provision on hiring quotas.

This will allow small businesses with four or fewer domestic employees to hire up to two skilled foreign counterparts.

The human rights of foreign laborers will also get more protection. Those forced to change jobs due to unfair treatment such as unpaid wages will have their previous work recognized and exempt from any disadvantage when altering or extending their work visas.

The Korea Immigration Service under the ministry will conduct surveys of employers and foreign workers and collaborate with relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The service by year's end will announce measures to stimulate the skilled workforce program.

"These policy improvements will lay the groundwork for harmonizing two key values to stimulate provincial economies: a stable supply of skilled workers and protection of the human rights of foreign workers," Minister of Justice Jung Sung-ho said. "We will keep listening more closely to voices at industrial sites and of foreign workers to continuously pursue rational entry and immigration policies and improve the work visa system."

aisylu@korea.kr