韩中小企业呼吁扩大明年移民劳动者引进规模

Core Viewpoint - Nearly half of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea believe that the scale of immigrant laborers introduced through the employment permit system should be expanded next year, with 45.2% supporting this view [1] Group 1: Employment Trends - 43.6% of enterprises advocate for maintaining the current level of immigrant laborers [1] - The construction industry shows the highest support for expansion at 48.0%, followed by manufacturing at 46.0% and services at 36.1% [1] - The number of E-9 visa immigrant laborers increased from 56,000 in 2020 to 165,000 last year, but has decreased to 130,000 this year [1] Group 2: Reasons for Hiring Immigrant Labor - The primary reason for hiring immigrant laborers is the difficulty in recruiting domestic labor, cited by 61.5% of enterprises, indicating a genuine labor shortage rather than just cost-saving motives [1] - The most significant institutional challenge faced by enterprises is the short duration of stay for immigrant workers, reported by 47.4% of respondents [1] Group 3: Recommendations for Policy Changes - Enterprises express a pressing need for a flexible and rapid supply of labor based on economic conditions, with 46.2% highlighting this requirement [1] - The Korea Economic Association emphasizes that for many SMEs, foreign laborers have become essential personnel on industrial sites, urging the government to establish a more flexible labor input system to alleviate labor shortages and enhance industrial competitiveness [1]