The Justice Ministry announced that it will propose amendments to the Immigration Control Act aimed at strictly limiting the recruitment of foreign workers by employers who violate wage laws or labor safety regulations. The proposed amendments will be open for public comment for 40 days starting June 19.
This amendment follows discussions at a government meeting chaired by the President in September 2025 regarding measures to address wage violations involving foreign workers. The changes aim to close existing loopholes that made it difficult to restrict foreign recruitment for employers who had been fined for wage violations or penalized for labor safety law breaches.
Key provisions of the amendment include a significant expansion of the types of penalties that can restrict foreign recruitment. Previously, only employers sentenced to imprisonment were barred from hiring foreigners. Under the new rules, employers fined over 5 million won for violations of the Labor Standards Act will also be prohibited from recruiting foreign workers for three years. Additionally, employers listed as wage violators will face restrictions throughout the duration of their listing.
New measures to prevent industrial accidents have also been introduced. Employers who violate the Industrial Safety and Health Act or the Serious Accident Punishment Act and receive a prison sentence, suspended sentence, or a fine of 5 million won or more will face restrictions on hiring foreign workers for a minimum of one year and up to three years, depending on the severity of the violation and the resulting harm.
Notably, if a worker dies due to a violation of the Industrial Safety Act or if there is a breach of the Serious Accident Punishment Act, the employer will be banned from hiring foreign workers for a uniform period of three years.
Furthermore, the Justice Ministry has introduced flexible provisions to enhance the effectiveness of these sanctions while minimizing adverse effects on the industrial sector. Exceptions will be made to shorten the restriction period based on factors such as the severity of the employer's violations, the risk of reoffending, and the employer's compliance with restitution and fine payments.
Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho stated, "This amendment aims to close institutional gaps and provide robust protection for foreign workers against violence, habitual wage violations, and industrial accidents. We expect it will encourage employers to fulfill their obligations and create a safe working environment for both citizens and foreigners."
The proposed legislation can be reviewed on the Justice Ministry's website and the official Gazette of the Republic of Korea, and the public is encouraged to submit comments via mail or email.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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