The Seoul Metropolitan Government will participate in a government-led pilot program allowing foreign domestic workers to be hired without the application of South Korea’s minimum wage law. (Image courtesy of Seoul city)
SEOUL, March 24 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced it will participate in a government-led pilot program allowing foreign domestic workers to be hired without the application of South Korea’s minimum wage law, sparking controversy over potential labor rights concerns.
The initiative, jointly managed by Seoul City and the Ministry of Justice, aims to address severe shortages in childcare and housekeeping labor at a more affordable cost. Beginning March 24, eligible foreign residents holding one of four visa types (D-2, D-10-1, F-3, and F-1-5) can apply to participate through private matching platform EasyTask.
Successful applicants will undergo education and training in April and May before beginning work placements in June. The city plans to match around 300 households, offering services ranging from housekeeping to childcare, or a combination of both. Families with children aged 6 to 18 are eligible to participate.
The employment terms — part-time or full-time (8 hours) — will be determined directly between households and workers, with private contracts facilitated through EasyTask. Seoul City will oversee the administrative process, including training, matching, and complaint handling, while the Ministry of Justice will verify visa status and authorize work activities.
Foreign students participating in the program will receive additional incentives, including an increase in allowed working hours from 10 to 35 hours per week and the ability to work in up to three locations instead of two. Long-term benefits include point-based visa advantages and eased financial documentation requirements for visa renewals.
“This program is designed to provide opportunities for foreign residents while easing the domestic burden of household and childcare duties,” said Lee Hae-seon, director of Seoul’s Global City Policy Bureau. “We expect both foreign participants and Korean families to benefit.”
However, critics warn that the program could create a class of foreign workers who fall outside the protection of labor laws. Unlike Seoul’s existing government-approved “Filipino housekeeping assistants,” who are employed through certified agencies and covered by minimum wage requirements, these new hires will work under private agreements that are not bound by such protections.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
