Latest news with #E-9
Korea Herald
20 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
E-9 foreign worker arrivals plunge 21% amid economic slump
The number of foreign workers entering South Korea under the non-professional employment visa dropped by 21 percent in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year amid growing concerns over a slowing economy. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the number of workers arriving in Korea under E-9 visas through the Employment Permit System totaled 28,520 as of June 10, down 20.9 percent from the 36,048 who entered during the same period last year. The Employment Permit System is a government program that allows employers facing chronic labor shortages to employ qualified foreign workers. Foreign workers who are employed under the Employment Permit System receive the E-9 visa and work in industries such as agriculture and livestock, fishing, as well as construction, manufacturing, services, mining and forestry. According to the Labor Ministry, the number of workers coming into Korea under the E-9 visa sharply declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, but rebounded in 2022 and 2023, reaching totals of 88,102 and 100,148 workers in those years, respectively. However, the number fell again in 2024 to 78,025 -- well below the government-set cap of 165,000 foreign workers. 'The economic slowdown has had an impact on demand for foreign workers, leading to the decrease,' said a Labor Ministry official. While an annual quota is normally set by the government, only 21.9 percent of the 130,000-person cap for this year has been filled so far, according to the Labor Ministry. When excluding flexible allocations for specific sectors, 29.1 percent of the 98,000 available slots have been filled. By industry, the manufacturing sector -- which typically takes up the largest share of E-9 visa holders -- saw a significant drop in new arrivals. While a total of 28,887 workers were admitted in the manufacturing sector in 2024, the number fell 25.8 percent this year to 21,443. Other industries also recorded notable declines. A drop of 21.7 percent in the number of workers under the E-9 visa was seen in the fishing sector, while the construction sector saw a decrease of 33.1 percent compared to last year. Only the agriculture and livestock sector and the service sector saw an increase in worker numbers. However, these gains were small and were not enough to offset the broader decline. The agriculture and livestock sector saw a 19.3 percent increase -- from 3,379 laborers in the first half of 2024 to 4,031 in the first half of 2025 -- and the service sector saw a 27.5 percent increase -- from 207 workers last year to 254 workers this year.
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Number of foreign workers with non-professional employment visas drop 21%
The number of foreign workers arriving in South Korea with non-professional employment visas dropped 21 percent this year, according to government data Sunday, apparently hit by the nation's sluggish economic growth. According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the number of foreign workers arriving here with E-9 visas under the Employment Permit System stood at 28,520 as of June 10, down 20.9 percent from the same period last year. In particular, the number of foreign workers with E-9 visas employed in the manufacturing sector slipped 25.8 percent on-year to 21,443, the data showed. A ministry official attributed weaker economic growth to the "decline in demand for foreign workforce." The Bank of Korea has cut its outlook for South Korea's economic growth this year to 0.8 percent, citing sagging consumption and slowing export growth amid uncertainties stemming from Washington's tariff measures. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
17-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Anti-corruption watchdog engages foreign business leaders to boost investment climate
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission of Korea held a policy roundtable on Thursday aimed at creating a more favorable environment for foreign investment and business operations in Korea. Chaired by Ryu Chul-whan, the commission has hosted 15 such roundtable events since 2008 with executives from foreign chambers of commerce in Korea. The sessions serve as a platform to hear directly from foreign companies about the challenges they face and to share the Korean government's latest anti-corruption initiatives. 'With increasing global uncertainties, including recent tariff measures by the Trump administration, we remain committed to fostering a transparent and fair society where foreign investment and international trade can thrive,' Ryu said during the meeting at the Government Complex Seoul. Thursday's roundtable was attended by James Kim, chair and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Maria Antonia von Schoenburg, chair of the Korean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Stefan Ernst, secretary-general of the European Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Rowan Petz, chair of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Sonia Chaieb, head of the French Chamber of Commerce in Korea, and Roger Royo, chair of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Korea, among 15 other executives from foreign chambers. At the session, the foreign chambers agreed on the importance of transparency, communication and regulatory alignment as Korea positions itself as a leading global business hub in the region. The government pledged continued dialogue and follow-up actions on key suggestions raised during the roundtable. Representing the Australian Chamber, Rowan Petz focused on the E-9 employment visa system, particularly its limitations in the hospitality sector. 'Hotels cannot interview candidates directly, and only certain nationalities are eligible. This does not reflect the reality of a service-based industry that relies heavily on communication and cultural fit.' He urged that the visa system be revised to better suit the operational needs of the hospitality industry. In response, ACRC Chair Ryu said the government would coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Justice to explore improvements. AmCham Chair James Kim emphasized the broader context, noting that Korea is not alone in facing uncertainty, referencing global political developments. 'Although there are uncertainties, I'm a big believer we'll all be back to normalized business soon.' He referenced a recent business report published by AmCham, which noted that Korea is in a much better position to host regional headquarters. He highlighted that while Korea remains the second most attractive HQ destination after Singapore, sentiment is shifting, with 50 percent of respondents viewing the environment negatively, up from 25 percent previously, citing that their internal survey showed that the government's influence on business perception grew from 36 percent to 57 percent in just one year. 'We shouldn't be losing out to Singapore, Hong Kong or Shanghai. ... And still, there's huge optimism. The upcoming election and APEC 2025 can both be launchpads for Korea's next five years,' Kim added. ddd@
South China Morning Post
17-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
South Korea's new visa to resolve labour shortage faces backlash
A visa system introduced this month to address labour shortages in regions outside Seoul is facing strong backlash, with concerns that the influx of migrant workers could threaten jobs for Korean citizens. Advertisement A petition calling for the abolition of the E-7-4R visa garnered more than 72,700 signatures as of Thursday after being posted on the National Assembly's petition site on March 20. The request is currently under parliamentary review, as required for all petitions that collect 50,000 signatures or more. Also known as the region-specific skilled worker visa, E-7-4R is designed for foreign nationals who have been working in government-designated regions where the issue of falling populations is particularly serious, according to the Ministry of Justice. If E-9 and E-10 visa holders stay in one of the designated areas for at least two years and meet certain skill requirements, they will become eligible to change their visas to E-7-4R, which would allow for a longer stay, the possibility of inviting family members and potentially an easier path to permanent residency. South Korean dealers work at Hana Bank in Seoul. Photo: EPA-EFE The petitioner, surnamed Nam, urged ministry officials to reconsider the policy, saying it could worsen the job situation for many struggling citizens, especially young ones. 'Improving the treatment of Korean citizens and creating stable jobs for them should be a priority before bringing in more foreign labour,' he said. Advertisement 'The E74R visa would greatly expand the influx of foreign workers into the country. This is likely to result in job losses for many already struggling Korean workers, particularly in small and medium-sized businesses and in the manufacturing and service industries, where increased competition could lead to job losses and lower wages.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local Air Force veteran volunteers, gives back to Youngstown VA
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN)- Every Tuesday in March we're introducing you to a remarkable woman from right here in the Valley. For Lori Stone, it all comes back to family, her own children and grandchildren, the family she made through her military service, and her volunteer family. Lori Stone's military journey started in 1965. She enlisted after graduating from Austintown Fitch. That was my dream. and back then you might not have known but women were only 2% of the force enlisted,' Stone said. She completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, and was stationed in the Philipines during the Vietnam War before returning to Texas, and then back to Ohio. She retired in 2006 after 33 years of service. 'Back when I started in '65 they never dreamed a woman would go above E-7. So retiring as a chief as an E-9 I kind of went in at 2% and I left at 2% because they had control on how many could be E-9s at that time in the Air Force.' A year after retiring, she was looking for more to do. 'I happened to run into a friend of mine and she goes, why not check into volunteering at the VA?' It started with a few days a week at the Youngstown VA Clinic, then became even more involved when she became the volunteer liaison in 2013. 'You know what the key thing is about the volunteers, they're not doing it for money, but from the heart,' she said. At the VA, she started a fundraising campaign to get a new van to transport veterans. She helped expand the Youngstown VA's food pantry. 'The food pantry working like it is, it seems like that has helped so many more people than anticipated,' she said. She has received several awards. including the 2018 Veteran of the Year by the United Veterans Council of Youngstown. In 2019, she was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. 'When they put my name in, I said 'ok, sure,' I never dreamed I was going to get it,' Stone said. With all her honors, Stone's greatest accomplishment is her family. 'I wouldn't be anyplace without Denise and Tammy, my two daughters, and my mother. those three ladies believed in me,' Stone said. She volunteers every day with her other family. It's the friendship, the other volunteers, the staff, I miss them, they're part of the family,' Stone said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
