SMEs Saved from Labor Shortage

A bill on permitting migrant workers to work legally in Korea was passed at the National Assembly yesterday, bringing to a conclusion the three-year long debate.

As a result, an estimated 220,000 illegal migrant workers can now expect to seek employment legally while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can choose from a larger workforce pool.

A policy-making committee on the foreign workforce will be set up under the Prime Minister`s Office to manage foreign workers` employment, and to draft protective measures for them, thereby significantly improving treatment and working conditions for many migrant workers.

However, implementation of the law is expected to face further obstacles due to ongoing differences over the issue within political and business communities.

The National Assembly convened the plenary session yesterday, during which the bill on granting work permits to migrant workers was passed, with 148 votes approving the bill, 88 objecting to it and 9 abstaining from the vote. The bill included a motion that the industrial trainee system already in place and the foreign worker system be implemented starting from August next year.

According to the bill, migrant workers can now work in Korea for up to three years. After those three years of employment, however, they will be required to leave the country for at least one year, so that the number of migrant workers living here permanently can be curbed.

In relation to the problem of illegal residents in Korea, the bill allowed a maximum employment term of two years for those who have been in the country for less than two years as of March 31, 2003. Those who have already been in the country for between three to four years, though, will be required to leave the nation with an issued certificate guaranteeing their re-entry before seeking a job. In order to prevent the number of illegal workers from rising, articles on illegal residents under the law will be enacted as well.

Rep. Shim Jae-chul of the Grand National Party expressed his objection during yesterday`s session, saying “Granting migrant workers permission to work legally will inevitably lead to the collapse of SMEs by raising labor costs.” Speaking out against this point, Rep. Shin Gye-ryun of the Millennium Democratic Party, who supported the bill, said, “Granting them permission won`t increase labor costs much nor will it break down the SMEs.”

During the same session, a bill on creating a second team of special investigators to look into allegations of a secret money that was sent to the North was voted down. The first bill was vetoed by President Roh Moo-hyun. The special investigator bill was abandoned as the reconsideration failed to gain over two-thirds approval. In the anonymous vote, there were 151 votes approving the bill, 105 objecting to it, while one person abstained. 257 lawmakers out of a total of 272 members were present for the vote.

Jong-Hoon Lee Min-Hyuk Park taylor55@donga.com mhpark@donga.com