Government to Run One-Year Grace Period for Mandatory Insurance for Foreign Seasonal Workers

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) announced on the 19th that it will operate a one-year grace period for three types of mandatory insurance for foreign seasonal workers: wage payment guarantee insurance, agricultural and fishery workers’ safety insurance, and accident insurance.
The three mandatory insurance policies for foreign seasonal workers are part of a new system that came into effect on the 15th under the amended Special Act on Support for Agricultural and Fishery Employment. Farms and foreign seasonal workers who sign labor contracts on or after the 15th of this month must enroll in the mandatory insurance within the deadline set by the enforcement decree. Those who fail to enroll within the deadline may face a fine of up to 5 million won.
However, MAFRA decided to introduce a one-year grace period until February 14, 2027, in consideration of the fact that most of those required to enroll are elderly farmers or foreign seasonal workers. During this grace period, the ministry will require employers and foreign seasonal workers to submit written pledges confirming that they understand the insurance system and will enroll in the required coverage.
When employers apply for foreign seasonal workers, which is done twice a year, they must submit an "insurance enrollment pledge form" as a required document, and foreign seasonal workers will submit the same pledge form in their home countries. The form will state that they must enroll in the three types of mandatory insurance within the prescribed period and that failure to do so may result in a fine of up to 5 million won.
In addition, all institutions involved in the seasonal worker program will work together to provide education and publicity on insurance enrollment for local governments, farm employers, and foreign seasonal workers.
hippo@fnnews.com Kim Chan-mi Reporter