According to the recent 'Foreign Labor Employment and Labor Conditions Survey' announced by the city of Daegu, the industrial sites in Daegu are heavily reliant on 'foreign power'.
The city commissioned a survey to the research firm Research Korea from October to December last year, targeting 205 businesses, 224 foreign workers, and 303 foreign students in Daegu through face-to-face and online surveys.
The most striking number from this survey is 93.2%. This is the percentage of foreign workers in Daegu's business establishments who are engaged in production-related tasks. When narrowed down to the industry, the manufacturing sector accounts for 98.2%, indicating that foreign laborers essentially carry the manufacturing scene in Daegu.
Business owners also seem satisfied with their contributions. 71.7% of respondent companies expressed satisfaction in resolving labor shortages. Additionally, 57.5% evaluated the productivity of foreign workers higher than that of domestic workers, with 52.2% expressing a desire to continue employing them.
The satisfaction level of foreign workers residing in Daegu is also high. A whopping 81.7% of respondents expressed a desire to continue living in Daegu as long as they have a long-term residency visa. Even international students showed a similar sentiment, with nearly half (47.2%) hoping to settle in the region.
However, there are still significant challenges to overcome. Both employers, workers, and students collectively identify three major difficulties. The biggest barrier is the language issue, with 58.5% experiencing communication problems. Complex administrative procedures were also a significant challenge at 57.1%. Furthermore, the lack of information on where good job opportunities exist was also cited as a barrier.
Based on this survey, the city of Daegu has decided to go beyond improving working conditions and to simplify visa and administrative procedures, provide employment information, and enhance living environments through comprehensive administrative support.
Park Ki-hwan, Director of the Economic Department of Daegu City, stated, "We have identified the specific demand for foreign policies needed in the region," and added, "We will design 'customized policies' to help foreign workers settle in Daegu, such as the recommendation system for skilled labor."