At 11p.m. on Thursday, December 22, Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jung Sik held his first meeting
in Seoul with ambassadors from 16 countries that send their workers to Korea―Vietnam, Philippines,
Thailand, Mongolia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, China, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar,
Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, East Timor, Laos―under the Employment Permit System (EPS). During this meeting,
Minister Lee shared the policy direction of the EPS and the current status of development cooperation on
employment and labor, and asked for close cooperation with the sending countries in order to reduce the
incidence of illegal residence in Korea.
In particular, the meeting, which had been suspended due to COVID-19 since 2018, took place face-to-face
for the first time in more than four years. Minister Lee asked for quick entry of foreign workers waiting to
come to Korea due to restrictions on movement after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and
requested the sending countries make necessary preparations to ensure smooth operation of the EPS as its
quota is set at a record-high number of 110,000 in the coming year.
The EPS is a non-professional foreign manpower introduction program, which was introduced in 2004 in
accordance with the Act on Employment of Foreign Workers in order to address the manpower shortage of
SMEs while protecting jobs for domestic workers.
The EPS is recognized as a system that has strengthened fairness and transparency through the signature of
a memorandum of understanding with governments of sending countries, and involvement of public offices
in selecting, introducing and supporting foreign workers. The system has also contributed to creating a
stable working environment for foreign workforce in Korea.
Minister Lee Jung Sik said, "For the sake of rapid entry of foreign workforce waiting in their countries to
enter Korea and smooth operation of the increased EPS quota for next year, we hope to closely cooperate
with the sending countries to ensure people return to their pre-pandemic life as soon as possible not only
in Korea but also in the sending countries." He added, “Korea will also take measures to protect the human
rights and improve the labor environment and workplace safety for migrant workers.”