Justice minister submits measures to address worker shortage

Quota for skilled worker visas will be significantly increased from last year's 2,000 to a minimum of 30,000. Short-term seasonal visa to extend their stay to eight months instead of the current five.

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, left, talks with Land Minister Won Hee-ryong during the government meeting on fiscal management held at the Blue House in Seoul on Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon said the quota for skilled worker visas will be significantly increased from last year's 2,000 to a minimum of 30,000.

Han raised the need to solve the worker shortage in key Korean industries and said that his ministry has been working on ways that would boost the number of migrant workers permitted in certain fields as ordered by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

According to the president’s office Wednesday, Han made the comment during a fiscal management meeting presided by Yoon.

The order was made as major industries, mainly shipbuilding, struggle with a shortage of skilled workers, including electricians and wielders, in contrast to the increase in global orders.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korean shipbuilders booked the largest number of first-quarter orders since 2011 at 3,868 compensated gross tonnage. They accounted for 40 percent of orders, taking a leading position in the global market.

The government has been taking measures to increase the number of skilled workers since late last year, including upgrading more non-professional E-9 visa holders that have worked in Korea for at least five years to the skilled E-7-4 visas.

There are more benefits for E-7-4 visa holders, including the right to bring their families to Korea and apply for permanent residency.

The Justice Minister added during the meeting that the ministry will reform the bill in order for workers on the short-term seasonal visa to extend their stay to eight months instead of the current five.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]