Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Under the Employment Permit System: Exploring Perceptions and Responses of Migrant Workers in South Korea

Abstract The number of migrant workers for temporary labor has rapidly increased, alongside high mortality rates in South Korea. This study explores the occupational safety and health conditions of migrant workers employed under the Employment Permit System (EPS). Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 11 EPS migrant workers who had experienced occupational injuries and illnesses, supplemented by secondary data such as official government guidelines, administrative manuals, and relevant legislation. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results are as follows: first, regarding migrant workers’ perceptions of the workplace environments that contributed to occupational injuries and illnesses, four subthemes were identified: restricted access to EPS workplace information; assignment to small-scale workplaces; inadequate safety training; and nominally conducted safety inspections. Second, three subthemes emerged regarding the contexts that prevented migrant workers from appropriately responding to their occupational injuries and illnesses: inaccessibility of medical services; institutional barriers to the Workers’ Compensation System; and lack of the right to transfer workplaces. Based on the results, this study highlights the importance of linking occupational health and safety policy with labor migration policy.