Citizens of Uzbekistan working in South Korea on an E-9 visa are no longer required to obtain prior approval from the Migration Agency's representative office to change jobs. This condition has been removed from the tripartite agreement.
Until recently, the agreement obligated workers to obtain consent from the Migration Agency in South Korea before changing employers, and failure to comply with this rule resulted in fines. However, after negotiations with Korean employers and non-governmental organizations, as well as reviewing appeals from Uzbek citizens themselves, the decision was made to exclude both these provisions.
Now, the worker has the right to terminate the current employment contract and move to another employer without needing separate permission from the Agency. Nevertheless, this change does not abolish all norms of South Korean legislation applicable to E-9 visa holders.
After resigning, the citizen is obliged to register as a job seeker within one month and find new employment within ninety days. If these deadlines are not met, they will have to leave South Korea, otherwise, they risk obtaining an illegal immigration status, which entails fines, deportation, and a ban on re-entry.
It is important to note that the clause regarding fines for illegal stay in South Korea remains in the tripartite agreement. Previously, there were reports of checks being initiated in South Korea regarding the working conditions of Uzbek citizens following complaints concerning contracts that stipulated a fine of two thousand dollars for each month worked for another employer without written consent from the Uzbek side.