SMEs accuse foreign workers of abusing system to force transfers

Some small and medium-sized Korean manufacturers complain of trouble with their foreign workers amid a growing number of what they allege to be unjustified work slowdowns in a bid to force workplace transfers. Choi Won-choong, head of an automobile..

Foreign workers arrive in Korea through Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport last July. [NEWS1]

Some small and medium-sized Korean manufacturers complain of trouble with their foreign workers amid a growing number of what they allege to be unjustified work slowdowns in a bid to force workplace transfers.

Choi Won-choong, head of an automobile sensor manufacturer, said he was approached by one of his foreign employees who insisted on leaving his job earlier this year — to move to another factory where his friends were working.

The employee came to Korea last November. When Choi refused, he allegedly started to slack off on his duties and was absent without giving notice.

Lee Dong-soo, who heads a plastic molding company, said he faced similar problems. A foreign worker who had just joined the company demanded to move to another branch. Lee said when he refused, he started to slack off noticeably. In the end, Lee let him move to another factory.

“For small enterprises, there aren’t any clear-cut solutions to dealing with such problems,” he said.

Several small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) reported similar cases on Thursday at a panel discussion held in Yeouido, western Seoul, organized by the Korea Federation of SMEs.

Panel participants argued that there were no effective measures to prevent disgruntled foreign workers from slowing down production, especially as SMEs face serious labor shortages.

In a survey by the Korea Small Business Institute of 500 companies that hired five or more E-9 visa holders, 58 percent of the companies said foreign employees had asked them to terminate their work contracts within just six months of arriving in the country.

E-9 non-professional visas include construction, manufacturing and agro-fishery workers.

Thirty-nine percent of the 500 companies said that foreign employees had expressed a desire to move to another job to work with their friends.

Eighty-five percent of the companies which refused to let them go experienced slacking off or unexcused absences. A whopping 97 percent of the respondents answered that they eventually let their workers go upon request.

Eighty-one percent of the companies answered they faced difficulties hiring new people, 57 percent of them faced losses for hiring foreign workers, and 55 percent answered they suffered setbacks in production.

According to the survey, companies want stronger incentives for productive workers and penalties for those who slack off in a bid to force a transfer.

Seventy-five percent of the respondents wanted more incentives for foreign workers who diligently work in their designated locations, with 68 percent suggesting extending their stay in the country and 20 percent suggesting simplified reentry procedures.

But for workers who opt to leave or transfer to another workplace without due cause or engage in wrongful behavior, 38 percent of respondents said they should be deported, 27 percent said their conduct should be reflected in their reentry evaluations, and 22 percent said their stay in Korea should be shortened.

“SME owners suffer fatigue from foreign workers exploiting flaws in the system,” said researcher Noh Min-sun of the Korea Small Business Institute. “There should be a minimum set of boundaries to counter employees when they attempt to change their jobs for no good reason.”

Forum participants also called on the government to come up with stronger measures to mediate conflicts between business owners and foreign workers. Some suggested that the Council for Protection of Rights and Interests of Foreign Workers should come up with criteria for what constitutes "slacking off," as well as a list of organizations that can settle disputes.

Companies also called for solutions when recruitment mismatches occur.

“It is difficult to hire young workers, with the average age of foreign employees in this industry being above 60,” said CEO Kim Dong-hyun of Korea Kijeon Metal, which manufactures ship parts. “There should be more specific subdivisions of E-9 visas by jobs, and even when the workers move to another workplace, there should be a supervising body so that they work in the same type of jobs.”

BY BAEK IL-HYUN [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]