Rights of seasonal workers

Seasonal work (E-8 and similar) is short, but your protections as a worker are the same.

What applies

• Minimum wage — regardless of duration.
• Standard employment contract — you must receive it in writing.
• Industrial accident insurance — you are covered if injured. See industrial-accident-basics.
• Accommodation standards — containers and greenhouses can be a problem. See dormitory-standards.
• Rules on accommodation deductions — they cannot deduct at will. See dormitory-fees.
• No assault or sexual harassment

Check before signing

1. The period and place of work
2. Wages and payment method — bank transfer is safest.
3. Working hours and rest days
4. Whether accommodation and meals are provided, and the deduction amount
5. Who pays the return airfare
6. The local government contact — seasonal work is often managed by the local authority.

Particular cautions

• Demands to hand over your passport — never agree. See passport-confiscation.
• Being made to work somewhere other than the contracted place — a status violation.
• Absconding — never do it. It is treated as your fault and blocks re-entry.
• Farm machinery and pesticides — never handle them without safety training. See farm-work-rights.

If problems arise

1. Tell the local government contact first — they manage the seasonal work programme.
2. Consult 1350 and 1577-0071.
3. If injured, claim through 1588-0075.
4. For assault or confinement, call 112.

Where to go

• The seasonal work department of the relevant local government
• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (with interpretation)
• 1577-0071 Foreign Workforce Support Centre
• 1588-0075 Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service
• 1345 residence status · 112 assault

Questions people ask

Does accident cover apply for such a short period? Yes — duration is irrelevant. It applies even for one day's work.

They want me to work somewhere other than the contracted farm. That can be a status violation. Check immediately with the local government contact and 1345.

I have no money for the return flight. The contract states who bears it. Ask the local government contact.

I want to come again next season. Working diligently with no absconding and no violations keeps the possibility open.

Take care

Because seasonal work is short, it is easy to think "just put up with it". But unpaid wages or unfair treatment must be recorded and raised on the spot. Once you have gone home, resolving it becomes far harder. Save the 1577-0071 number.

Related

farm-work-rights · dormitory-standards · dormitory-fees · industrial-accident-basics · e8-seasonal-worker

Source

Ministry of Justice, seasonal worker programme www.hikorea.go.kr / As of 2026-08