Employment Permit System

The Employment Permit System

The Employment Permit System allows employers who have failed to hire local workforce, to legally employ foreign workers. (the Korean government or public institution administer the management of the foreign workers)

Transparency of the foreign workforce selection and introduction process, and prevention of corruption practices and anomalies in the sending process.

• Select qualified foreign workers according to employer's demand
• Choose competent workers have satisfactory skill level and Korean language proficiency.

• Protect human rights of foreign workers
• Implement equality between local (Koreans) and foreign workers on the application and observance of labor related laws and policies such as Labor Standards Act, Minimum Wage Act and Industrial Safety and Health Act.

Procedure on Selection and Introduction of Foreign Worker (E-9) and more here.

• 01 . Decision on major policies including quota and sending countries
  • Deliberation and decision by the Foreign Workforce Policy Committee(established by the Prime Minister's Office)
    • Major issues related to foreign workforce such as type of business, quota and sending countries ect.

• 02 . Signing of MOU on the sending workforce (ROK government↔Sending country government)
  • Signing MOU to prevent corruption scandal in the sending process
  • Decide on the renewal of MOU through regular assessment on MOU execution

• 03 . Making job seekers' roster(Sending country government↔ ROK government)
  • Sending countries(government institution) select competent job seekers(multiple number of quota) based on objective standard of qualification such as EPS-TOPIK score, result of skill test and working experience
  • HRD Korea approves job seekers' roster which sending countries transfer

• 04 . Selection of foreign workers & issuance of Employment Permit(Employers ↔ MOEL)
  • To protect the employment opportunity of Koreans, employers can apply for Employment Permit at Job Centers in case of having failed to employ Koreans in spite of the efforts to hire them (for 3 to 7 days)
  • Job Centers recommend foreign workers who are qualified the recruitment conditions(three times).
  • The Employment Permits are issued when employers choose competent foreign workers among the recommended

• 05 . Singing of labor contract(Employer ↔ Foreign worker)
  • Employers sign the Standard Labor Contract with selected foreign workers(Labor contract must clarify working conditions such as wage, working hours, holidays and workplace)

• 06 . Issuance of Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance(Employer↔ MOJ)
  • Employers apply for Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance(CCVI) and MOJ issues CCVI

• 07 . Entry of foreign workers(Employer ↔ Sending country)
  • Employers send CCVIs to sending countries, foreign workers enter will apply for a work visa (E-9) at the Korean Embassy and foreign workers enter Korea after the issuance of their visa.
  • Foreign workers must complete Employment Training (minimum of 20 hours) after entry

• 08 . Employment management of foreign workers(MOEL) & Sojourn management of foreign workers(MOJ)
  • Conduct labor inspection on workplace which employs foreign workers(MOEL)
  • Provide post management services such as consultation and free education(MOEL, HRD Korea and NGOs)
  • Permits change of workplace due to suspension or closing of business, delaying wage and other justifiable reasons.
  • Execute strict sojourn management through strengthening the immigration control administration and establishing a link system between MOJ and MOEL