SEOUL – South Korea today announced the extension of the stay of some 115,000 foreign workers by a year in a bid to relieve the labour shortage faced by small businesses, and the farming and fishing sectors.
The Yonhap news agency reported the Labour and Justice Ministries as saying the extension applies to holders of the E-9 non-professional employment and H-2 visiting employment visas whose period of stay and work in the country is set to expire between today and December 31.
The measure is being implemented in view of the impact of the Covid-19 travel restrictions faced by migrant workers and the labour shortage in certain industries, said the ministries.
Government data showed that the number of foreign workers with the E-9 visa fell sharply from 51,365 in 2019 to 6,688 last year, mainly due to the cancellation of international flights because of the coronavirus crisis.
The number of arrivals with the H-2 visa also fell in the same period, from 63,339 to 6,044. – Bernama, April 13, 2021
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