Manufacturing sector allocated 9,020 slots, farming and livestock 1,906; flexible reserve pool of 10,000 available if demand exceeds quotas; results due Aug. 4, with further rounds in September and November

Foreign workers arriving from Nepal enter through the arrivals hall at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport. [Newsis]
Foreign workers arriving from Nepal enter through the arrivals hall at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport. [Newsis]

The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Thursday it will accept third-round applications for new employment permits under the Employment Permit System (E-9 visa) from July 6 to July 20.

A total of 12,630 slots have been allocated for this round. Manufacturing accounts for the largest share at 9,020, followed by farming and livestock at 1,906, fishing at 1,196, construction at 394 and services at 114.

Should demand in any sector exceed its allocated quota, the government plans to draw on a flexible reserve pool of 10,000 additional slots.

Employers wishing to hire foreign workers must first make a seven-day domestic recruitment effort before applying. Applications can then be submitted in person at the relevant regional employment and labor office or online through the Goyong24 portal.

Results will be announced Aug. 4. Employment permit certificates will be issued from Aug. 5 to Aug. 11 for the manufacturing and mining sectors, and from Aug. 12 to Aug. 19 for farming, livestock, fishing, forestry, construction and services.

The ministry said it will continue accepting applications for the remaining rounds this year on a rolling basis, with the fourth round scheduled for September and the fifth for November.

"We are allocating foreign workers based on sector-by-sector demand to ease labor shortages at industrial sites," a ministry official said. "We ask employers to check the application period and prepare in advance so they can secure the workers they need in a timely manner."


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