Gov’t denies foreign worker scheme aims to expand cheap labor

“The government has rejected concerns that its new foreign worker scheme for depopulated regions is designed to expand access to cheap migrant labor, insisting it is meant to sustain local economies facing structural labor shortages. In written responses sent to The Korea Times recently, the Ministry of Justice said the goal is not “simple cost-cutting through low-paid foreign workers,” but to help solve the “structural labor shortage problem in depopulation areas where hiring Koreans” is very difficult. Announced earlier this month, the “regional vitality special employment scheme for small businesses” allows small businesses and agricultural corporations in designated areas to hire foreigners who hold the F-2-R visa, which lets certain noncitizens live and work long term in designated depopulated areas. Previously, the F-2-R visa could only be used by employers that already had Korean staff on their payroll, a condition officials said was difficult to meet amid worsening labor shortages across the country, excluding major cities. Under the initiative, employers in 89 design

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