Employment Permit System (EPS)
Introduction
The Employment Permit System has been in operation since August 17, 2004, in line with the purpose of the Employment Permit System, systematically selecting and managing foreign workers, and supporting employers in smooth staffing supply and other aspects.
Key Features and Services
1.Public Services for Al
●The Homepage for Employers and Nonimmigrant Workers
This homepage introduces the Employment Permit System to employers, allowing them to apply for permits, check the status of applications, and handle inquiries. It also provides native language contents for nonimmigrant workers.
●The Homepage for Foreigners
This homepage introduces the employment permit system in 16 languages and allows access to Korean language proficiency test results. Users can check the progress of their Korean employment application and view their skills test scores. Additionally, the homepage offers services such as issuing career certificates to returning workers.
∗︎Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
●The Mobile Homepage
The mobile homepage provides native language services for FAQ and domestic life guidance to support foreign workers' residency in South Korea.
2.Internal User Services
●Intranet
The intranet provides workflow services for personnel at the Employment Centers, the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, and agency representatives to facilitate the execution of employment permit system tasks.
●Job Seeker Registry Management System
The Job Seeker Registry Management System provides functions for receiving and inputting job applications from prospective Korean employees from the 16 countries that have signed MOUs with the sending agencies.
3.Operational Effects of EPS
●Streamline the process of finding foreign workers
Enhancements made to the Employment Permit System (EPS) have significantly streamlined the hiring process. Initially requiring a total of 5 to 7 days—3 days for matchmaking, two days for candidate selection, one day for job requests, and one day for hiring processing—it has now been reduced to a mere 1 to 3 days, with each component, including matchmaking, candidate selection, job requests, and hiring processing, only taking one day.
●Pre-employment workplace environment information service
The service that provides advanced information on the workplace environment utilizes address-based street view to offer photos of the work environment and dormitories and also provides the business website address.
●Strengthening supervision and management of workplaces and foreign workers
The inspection and guidance process was strengthened, and the criminal complaint management process was implemented.
●Implementation of the process for verifying foreign workers' wage change history
A system was developed to verify the wage types for each foreign worker's employment contract, making it possible to use this information for calculating end-of-term insurance and severance payments.
4.Key Achievements
2024 Transfer of EPS National Website and Administrative Portal Services to Employment24
2023 Establishment of a comprehensive platform for basic personal information on foreigners across the government and amendment of the Immigration Control Act
2022 Completion of the redevelopment project for the transition of the Employment Permit System (EPS) to the e-Government standard framework
2021 Expansion of non-face-to-face services on the public website related to COVID-19
2018 Redesign of the intranet main screen
2017 Enhancement of personalized services and establishment of e-learning for employers in the fishing industry
2016 Complete redesign of mobile services and enhancement of content services tailored to individual users
2015 Expansion of multilingual services, launch of severance pay differential calculation service
2014 Establishment of a passport reading system and multilingual support for mobile services
2013 Launch of the foreign worker employment management mobile service
2012 Implementation of unique identification information encryption and establishment of official document approval system, re-entry services for diligent foreign workers, and special agency services
2011 Establishment of competency assessment management system and web transition of job seeker registry management system for dispatching agencies
2010 Comprehensive redesign of the Employment Permit System
2009 Development of online services for foreign workers' entry procedures and employment education
2007 System reorganization due to consolidation of foreign workforce regulations into foreign employment permit system
2004 Commencement of the Employment Permit System services
●Service Operation Status (As of the end of January 2024)
Registered information: 1.44 million workers; 370,000 businesses
Employment permits issued (Number of Cases) : 2,789,446
Job applications (Number of Cases) : 4,429,578