KUALA LUMPUR - South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will hold a briefing session on February 4 to explain amendments to the Special Act on Support for Employment in Agriculture and Fisheries, aimed at strengthening wage protection and compensation for foreign seasonal workers.

The session will take place at the Government Sejong Convention Center and will involve local government officials, representatives from the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives, fishery workers and other industry stakeholders, as reported by The Asia Business Daily.

It is intended to raise awareness of key system changes following the legal revision and improve understanding of the new regulations.

The amended law formally establishes a protection framework for foreign seasonal workers under the E-8 visa, with the aim of strengthening trust within the sector.

It introduces measures including a ban on discrimination, mandatory use of standard employment contracts, compulsory insurance coverage and the settlement of wages before workers return home.

Employers who fail to comply may face fines of up to five million won.

A key focus of the briefing will be mandatory insurance requirements and their implementation timeline.

Under the revised law, employers who hire foreign seasonal workers after February 15 must enrol in wage payment guarantee insurance within 30 days of the employment contract taking effect.

They must also register workers under agriculture and fisheries safety insurance within 15 days.

Foreign seasonal workers entering the country after the same date will be required to take out accident insurance within 15 days of arrival.

Wage payment guarantee insurance is the responsibility of employers and carries an annual premium of about 15,000 won per worker.

Agriculture and fisheries safety insurance is also paid by employers, with annual premiums ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 won.

Of this, 50 per cent is subsidised by the national government, while local governments cover between 24 and 40 per cent.

Accident insurance is taken out by workers, with premiums varying according to provider and policy terms.

Local governments will also provide administrative support under the revised framework.

City, county and district offices will be able to apply for accident insurance benefits on behalf of workers, assist with wage guarantee claims and report cases of unpaid wages.

Policy chief Choi Hyunho said the briefing aimed to improve labour conditions and promote stability in the fisheries workforce.

“We hope this briefing session will serve as an opportunity to improve working conditions and protect the human rights of foreign workers, as well as to make workforce management in the fisheries sector more stable.

“We will listen closely to on-site concerns and actively reflect them in future policy improvements,” he said.