Experts Divided over ¡®Working Permits¡¯ for Foreign Workers

Lee Joon-seung

Lee Joon-seung. 2000. ¡°Experts Divided over ¡®Working Permits¡¯ for Foreign Workers.¡± The Korea Herald, October 11, 2000.


ith parliament functioning again and the ruling camp ready to pass legislation that would enhance foreign workers¡¯ rights, labor experts and scholars debated the pros and cons of the new ¡°employment permit system¡± yesterday.

At a public hearing hosted by the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), participants agreed that Korea was facing tough problems due to labor shortages, but disagreed on how to resolve this issue.

The government and the MDP announced last May that they would abolish the current ¡°industrial trainee system,¡± which many human rights advocates have said contributed to the harsh conditions that foreign workers are subjected to when working in Korea.

The government also plans to take direct control of managing the invitation and allocation of foreign laborers to companies. The new ¡°permit regime¡± would also allow foreign workers and local employers to sign a one-year contract that could be renewed for up to three years.

In addition, reflecting concerns that foreign workers could destabilize the local labor market, the MDP has said that it would include a clause that stipulates that local companies first seek to hire Korean workers, before looking to hire foreign help. They will also prohibit foreign workers from staging strikes related to hiring practices demanding the extension of the employment contracts.

Prof. Seol Dong-Hoon of Seoul National University, while noting that the current foreign labor system was causing a host of social and human rights problems, said that with most Koreans unwilling to work in difficult and dangerous work environments, there really was no other choice than to make use of foreign workers.

An expert from the Institute of Workers¡¯ Right agreed that change was needed, while emphasizing the Ministry of Labor Affairs must make sure that foreign workers do not use the ¡°permit regime¡± to land jobs in the service sector. He added that the government must pay more attention to safeguarding Korean workers¡¯ rights after this new system goes into effect.

Prof. Lee Yun-Bo of Konkuk University pointed out that many small and medium-size businesses were concerned about the latest move. ¡°Because of the razor-thin profit margins, even the slightest rise in pay would cause most of these companies to loose money,¡± he said. Lee then said that there was a possibility that foreign laborers might stage strikes even if they are prohibited from doing so.

Another expert added that the permit system would not resolve all the illegal hiring practices and human rights violations, and called for a long-term solution to the problem.

The MDP said that it would reflect the opinions at the debate as well as general public sentiments on this matter before forwarding its final proposal for debate in the National Assembly later this month. by Lee Joon-seung. Staff reporter.