Restaurant (Food Service) - Guide to the Recruitment Procedure for Foreign Worke

Today, we will learn about the hiring process for foreign workers (E-9) in restaurants (food establishments) that has been implemented and regulations have been relaxed starting this year.

□ Application target

Restaurants where E-9 foreign workers can work include Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Western restaurants (Employment Insurance Industry Codes 56111, 56112, 56113, 56114 + 56121, 56122, 56123, 56129).

The applicable business must have been in business for at least 5 years and the maximum number of foreigners that can be hired is 1 for a business with less than 5 domestic employees and 2 for a business with 5 or more domestic employees.

Foreigners can work as kitchen assistants (Korean Standard Occupational Classification 95220) in tasks such as preparing food, washing dishes, and cleaning the kitchen.

□ E-9 Visa

The visa for foreign workers who can work in restaurants is the E-9 visa. The E-9 visa is a non-professional work visa issued under the employment permit system. It is a visa that employers can apply for and receive at the (regional) employment and labor centers of the Ministry of Employment and Labor for foreign workers directly selected from 16 sending countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines.

Until last year, E-9 visa applications were only available to foreign workers in manufacturing, basic industries, and agriculture, but starting this year, E-9 visa applications are now available to foreign workers in restaurants as well.

□ Recruitment and employment contract process

- Employers request to hire foreign workers by visiting an employment center or through Worknet (www.work.go.kr)

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- Selection and introduction of prospective employees from among the foreign job seekers referred (employer → Korea Institute of Industrial Technology)

- Transmission and confirmation of standard employment contract (Korea Industrial Input Corporation, Employment Center)

Refusal of a contract for a foreign job seeker: Only possible once; if rejected twice, job applications are restricted for 1 year