The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said the inspections will run through Nov. 27, focusing on working conditions, housing standards and potential human rights abuses.
Joint inspection teams comprising government officials and civic organizations will examine businesses in five municipalities where allegations of rights violations have emerged or large numbers of seasonal workers have been allocated. Another 22 municipalities will conduct their own inspections.
Authorities will check employment contracts, unpaid wages, mandatory insurance and housing conditions ahead of winter.
Workers will also be interviewed about possible restrictions on movement and communication, as well as employers unlawfully retaining passports or bankbooks.
Businesses found violating regulations will be required to take corrective measures. Municipalities that fail to address violations could face penalties and restrictions on future foreign worker allocations.
The inspections follow a nationwide review conducted between April and June, which identified 663 violations at 603 agricultural and fishing businesses out of 3,093 inspected.
Of those violations, 566 involved housing conditions, while 97 concerned labor conditions and workers' rights, according to the Justice Ministry.
"The safety and protection of human rights for foreign seasonal workers are fundamental principles that must be upheld," said Cha Yong-ho, head of the Korea Immigration Service under the Justice Ministry.
Choi Hyun-ho, head of the Fisheries Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said the government would work with relevant agencies to improve working and living conditions and address problems identified during the inspections.
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