KUALA LUMPUR - South Korea’s Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Employment and Labour said labour inspectors will begin biweekly visits to selected foreigner protection facilities from December 29 to receive complaints and provide on-site consultations.

The initial phase will cover five centres with high numbers of protected foreigners — Hwaseong, Cheongju, Yeosu, Incheon and Ulsan — before authorities assess whether to extend the programme nationwide, The Chosun Daily reported.

Officials said the expansion would potentially include facilities under the jurisdiction of 14 immigration and foreign offices across the country.

Grievance counsellors at the protection facilities will first gather information on employers, alleged damages and related details, which will then be shared with the labour ministry.

Dedicated office space, investigation equipment and interpretation services will be provided to allow labour inspectors to conduct interviews and inquiries inside the facilities.

The government will also display a wage arrears guidance document outlining claim procedures at all 19 foreigner protection facilities nationwide.

For cases where unpaid wages are confirmed, immigration authorities said they will proactively consider temporary release from protection to speed up the recovery process.