E-9 visa holders to be able to work at hotels next year

The Ministry of Justice announced Friday that E-9 visa holders will be able to work at hotels and tourist accommodations next year as Korea aims to address the labor shortage in the hospitality sector.

Lee Jung-Sik, employment minister, discusses methods to solve the labor shortage in a meeting with hotel and tourist accommodation businesses on Dec. 21. The Ministry of Justice announced Friday that E-9 visa holders will be able to work at such establishments. [NEWS1]

The Ministry of Justice announced Friday that E-9 visa holders will be able to work at hotels and tourist accommodations next year as Korea aims to address the labor shortage in the hospitality sector.

Hotels, hostels and other accommodation establishments in Seoul, Busan, Gangwon and Jeju will be able to hire E-9 visa holders as housekeepers and kitchen staff.

Cleaning service companies contracted to work for such hotels will also be able to hire E-9 visa holders.

Currently, E-9 visa holders are allowed to work in industries such as manufacturing, construction, agriculture and fishing.

The Justice Ministry didn't specify when E-9 visa holders can start working in the hospitality industry but said it will be within the next year.

After doing a trial run in the four regions, the government will decide whether to institutionalize the change for the entire country.

The E-9 visa eligibility will be expanded to include Tajik nationals in another effort to help solve Korea's labor shortage.

Nationals only from countries on the list of the employment permit system (EPS) can apply for an E-9 visa, including the Philippines, Mongolia and Sri Lanka and 13 others currently.

These countries signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean government.

The Korean government will sign an MOU with Tajikistan next year and build an EPS center in Tajikistan to begin hosting Tajik nationals on E-9 visas starting in 2025.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]