The federal government uncovered widespread labor rights violations throughout two rounds of focused inspections this yr at worksites using overseas employees.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor introduced Wednesday that its probe found a complete of 846 violations at 182 worksites amongst 196 high-risk workplaces inspected, from late April to June and once more in September.
Whereas a broad 2022 evaluation of 1,365 workplaces uncovered 5,162 violations, this yr’s extra narrowly focused inspections of 182 high-risk websites nonetheless revealed 846 violations.
Officers mentioned the inspections uncovered troubling patterns of mistreatment towards overseas employees, together with 10 workplaces that had been discovered to have dedicated bodily assault and blatant discrimination.
Wage theft was essentially the most prevalent offense, with a complete of 1.7 billion gained ($1.16 million) in unpaid wages recognized at 123 companies. Moreover, 65 firms had been cited for forcing extreme time beyond regulation, and 22 denied employees their legally mandated breaks or days off.
The violators had been discovered to have exploited employees’ noncitizen standing, withholding bonuses or annual depart from overseas workers whereas offering the identical advantages to Korean employees performing an identical duties, officers mentioned. Some employers cited enterprise hardship to justify unpaid wages or allowances that fell under authorized requirements. Inspectors additionally uncovered quite a few circumstances during which overseas employees had been denied obligatory relaxation durations and holidays.
In response, the ministry ordered all 182 employers to appropriate the violations, together with settling unpaid wages. Officers mentioned that thus far, 1.27 billion gained of the 1.7 billion gained owed at 103 workplaces has been repaid. The remaining 430 million gained in again pay owed by 20 Korean employers to overseas employees is at present being monitored.
Furthermore, the ministry formally filed complaints with the prosecution towards employers in notably severe circumstances. In a single occasion, the supervisor of an organization in South Chungcheong Province bodily assaulted a overseas worker for minor office errors. In one other case, the proprietor of a Gangwon-based firm refused to pay 110 million gained in wages to 25 Korean and overseas workers members since December 2024, ignoring repeated orders to resolve the problem. Each circumstances have been referred to prison prosecution on labor regulation violation expenses.
Past wage and abuse circumstances, inspectors additionally discovered that some companies didn’t enroll overseas workers in obligatory insurance coverage packages or supplied insufficient dormitory amenities. Three companies that unlawfully employed overseas workers with out acquiring the E-9 allow below the Employment Allow Program have been slapped with a ban on hiring noncitizens.
The ministry vowed to scrupulously monitor compliance at these workplaces. It warned that any website deemed more likely to repeat violations will likely be topic to follow-up inspections and probably stricter penalties.
In the meantime, the ministry mentioned it’ll step up efforts to enhance working situations for overseas employees, sharing the inspection findings with migrant-heavy companies, native governments and assist facilities nationwide.
Authorized protections are being strengthened alongside enforcement. As a part of the reforms, the Ministry of Justice mentioned earlier this month that it amended laws in order that public officers are now not required to report undocumented employees who come ahead as victims of wage theft — a transfer aimed toward making certain that overseas victims can search assist with out concern of being deported.
“There can’t be any distinction between Korean and overseas employees on the subject of defending fundamental labor rights,” Labor Minister Kim Younger-hoon mentioned. “Foreigners additionally should have their labor rights assured and to work fortunately. To attain this, we are going to conduct proactive steerage and inspection of workplaces notably susceptible to overseas employee exploitation, construct an built-in assist system for all working foreigners, and enhance laws in cooperation with associated companies in order that their grievances are remedied and their rights are protected.”
