Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

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 administers the management of the foreign workers)

• Use foreign workforce guaranteeing the employment opportunity of domestic workers.
  • Decide the quota of foreign workforce introduction considering human resources supply and demand trends such as Korean economic situation and domestic labor market every year.
  • Allow employers with less than 300 regular workers to hire foreign workers in the labor shortage industries such as agriculture &stockbreeding, fishery, construction and manufacturing.
• Transparency of the foreign workforce selection and introduction process, and prevention of corruption practices and anomalies in the sending process
  • Government institutions or agencies administer the process of foreign workforce selection and introduction based on the MOU signed between the ROK government and sending country's government.(Job Center and HRD Korea)
• Select qualified foreign workers according to employer's demand
• Choose competent workers with satisfactory skill level and Korean language proficiency.
  • Protect human rights of foreign workers
  • Ensure equal treatment 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)

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) on 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 of MOU to prevent corruption scandals in the sending process and decision on the renewal of MOU through regular assessments on MOU implementation

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 transferred by sending countries

04 . Selection of foreign workers &issuance of Employment Permit(Employers/MOEL)

To protect the employment opportunities 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 satisfied 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) of MOJ.

07 . Entry of foreign workers(Employer/Sending country)

Employers send CCVIs to sending countries, foreign workers apply for a work visa (E-9) at the Korean Embassy, and enter Korea after the issuance of their visa. Foreign workers must complete Employment Training (minimum of 16 hours) after their entry.

08 . Employment management of foreign workers(MOEL) &Sojourn management of foreign workers(MOJ)

Labor inspection is conducted on workplace which employs foreign workers(MOEL). Post management services such as consultation and free education is provided(MOEL, HRD Korea and NGOs). Change of workplace may be permitted due to suspension or closing of business, delay in wage payment and other justifiable reasons. Strict sojourn management is executed through strengthening the immigration control administration and establishing a link system between MOJ and MOEL

※ EPS-TOPIK - Outline of EPS-TOPIK

01. Test is consists of two sections

• listening(20 questions) and reading comprehensions(20 questions)

02. Total test time is 50minutes : 25 minutes for listening and 25 minutes for reading

03. Test includes questions on basic understanding of the Korean society as well as general questions related to employment such as responsibilities of the job and industrial safety.

Web Links - Web links for information

• OEC Homepage : http://www.oec.gov.pk
• EPS : https://www.eps.go.kr/eo/paMain.eo?natNm=pa
• HRD Korea & EPS TOPIK : http://eps.hrdkorea.or.kr/