Korea mulls legal action against overstaying Lankans

Rasika SOMARATHNA

Authorities are set to take legal action against Sri Lankan migrant workers who overstay their work visas in South Korea.

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) yesterday warned Lankan migrant workers not to misuse Korean work visas by overstaying their stipulated contract period.

The SLBFE said that they would take immediate steps to make both migrant workers and their parents aware on the need to return home soon after the workers’ visas lapse.

“If workers stay in Korea illegally even after their work visas lapse, we would initiate legal action against them or their guarantees back home,” a SLBFE official said.

The SLBFE also said that misusing Korean work visa rules by Sri Lankans would have a negative impact on future employment prospects in Korea. The SLBFE also reminded the workers that their maximum period of employment in Korea had been extended from three to five years by Korean authorities on the request of the Bureau.

They requested migrants and migrant worker aspirants in Korea, not to misuse their work visas. Korean employment authorities held a meeting with ambassadors of 15 countries who send migrant workers to Korea where they had emphasized the need to prevent work visa misuse.

It is reported that the Korean authorities are contemplating introducing tougher rules for specific countries whose workers overstay their work visas.