Daily Busan
New support center for foreigners
The BSCFW is invaluable to foreign workers.
In May, the Busan Support Center for Foreign Workers opened to help people from around the world settle in Busan. International workers have become essential to Busan's labor force, which is facing shortages due to the city's aging population and low birthrate.
The center, operated by the Federation of Korean Trade Unions Busan Regional Office, offers various programs such as labor relations consultations, industrial safety training, Korean language classes and mental health services.
Individuals will find support to combat labor issues, such as unpaid wages, unfair dismissals, and industrial accidents. The center will also be a valuable resource for general information about health insurance, visas, alien registration cards, and more. Additionally, free translation services are available in Chinese, Vietnamese and other languages.
In the future, mentoring will be offered through The Mentor Bridge program, matching Busan citizens or long-term international residents with foreign workers. Korean cultural experiences will also be provided.
The center is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday to Thursday and closed on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays. However, some classess will be held on Saturdays to ensure smooth operation of training.
E-9 and H-2 visa holders from the countries that signed the Employment Permit System Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Korean government are eligible to access the center's programs.
Currently, 16 countries are under the Employment Permit System MOU with the Korean government: China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Myanmar, Timor-Leste and Laos. For details, call the center at (051-868-7606).
Address: B1F, 86 Yeonsu-ro, Yeonje-gu
Vocab Spotlight (단어 돋보기)
Federation of Korean Trade Unions: 한국노동조합총연맹
unpaid wages: 임금 체불
unfair dismissals: 부당해고
industrial accidents: 산업 재해