Domestic and care workers
Which law applies to domestic and care work depends on how you are engaged. Establish which category you fall into.
Three forms
- Employed by a certified domestic service agency — protected under the Domestic Workers Act: employment contract, minimum wage, paid holidays, social insurance.
- Directly employed by an individual — the traditional "household employee" form. Parts of the Labour Standards Act do not apply.
- Care workers, childminders and similar — separate schemes and qualifications apply.
Your rights differ greatly depending on which form applies. Always check with 1350 with your contract in hand.
Check before signing
- Who you are contracting with — an agency or an individual.
- Working hours and scope of duties — vague terms like "all housework" lead to disputes.
- Wages and payday
- Whether accommodation and meals are provided, and deductions
- Rest breaks and days off
- Whether social insurance is provided
Particular cautions
- Live-in work — the boundary between work and private life easily disappears. Define the working hours clearly.
- Demands to hand over your passport or phone — never agree. See forced-labor and passport-confiscation.
- Restrictions on going out, confinement — signs of forced labour. 112.
- Abuse, assault, sexual harassment — crimes. Report immediately.
- Whether your status permits this work — always check with 1345.
If problems arise
- Record your hours and duties every day — photos, notes, texts.
- Consult 1350 and 1577-0071.
- For violence or confinement call 112; women can also use 1366.
- If injured, ask 1588-0075 about industrial accident cover.
Where to go
- 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (with interpretation)
- 1577-0071 Foreign Workforce Support Centre
- 112 assault and confinement · 1366 Women's Emergency Line
- 1345 to check residence status
- Local migrant workers' support centres and family centres
Questions people ask
I work all day with no defined hours. Setting working hours in writing is the key. Start recording daily from now and consult 1350.
The householder is holding my passport. Demand its return immediately, and if refused, consult 112 or 1577-0071. It is a classic sign of forced labour.
They won't let me go out. Confinement is a crime. When you can, contact 112 or 1366.
Does my status permit domestic work? It varies by status. Always check with 1345. Working without permission is a violation.
Take care
Live-in domestic and care work isolates people easily. Keep your phone with you at all times and stay in regular contact with someone outside. Tell them your address and ask them to check on you if contact stops.
Related
forced-labor · passport-confiscation · human-trafficking · migrant-women-shelter · illegal-work-risks
Source
Ministry of Employment and Labour www.moel.go.kr / As of 2026-08