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Authorities in Korea have announced that they will ease medical examination requirements for foreign labourers who want to work in food factories and eateries so that they can join the workforce immediately.
Korea JoongAng Daily reports that the Office for Government Policy Coordination has said that foreign workers with food hygiene jobs can undergo health screening tests using only their passports. Under the current scheme, foreign food worker candidates must wait approximately three to four weeks for the Ministry of Justice to issue a residence card, a legal identification for foreigners staying in Korea for over 90 days.
According to the Food Sanitation Act, operators and employees in food manufacturing or storage businesses or workers handling food and food additives are required to undergo medical checkups at district health offices before beginning work in the industry.
Additionally, foreign food worker candidates will be allowed to undergo health screening during three days of occupational training provided by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea within fifteen days of entering the country.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will pilot the scheme after the Proactive Administration Committee reviews the policy in December.
