Today South Korea officially approved its 2026 work permit quota, that will allow 80,000 foreign workers including Pakistani to secure legal jobs in South Korea over the year. The decision comes under the EPS (Employment Permit System) of South Korea.
Why This Matters
- 80,000 total workers approved for 2026
- Down from 130,000 in 2025, a drop of nearly 38 percent
- Impacts labor systems across Asia and the Middle East
- Signals tighter state control over foreign workforce intake
South Korea plays a central role in regional labor demand. Any change of this scale affects multiple countries at once, not just individual workers.
How the 2026 Quota Is Distributed
The approved quota shows clear sector priorities. Manufacturing receives 50,000 places, keeping factories staffed under stricter limits. Agriculture and livestock are allocated 10,000, reflecting ongoing rural shortages. Fisheries receive 7,000, tied to coastal production needs.
Construction sees the sharpest contraction at 2,000 places, while the service sector is capped at 1,000. A further 10,000 workers remain in a flexible reserve held by the government for unexpected industrial demand.
Officials describe the framework as a move toward stability after pandemic-era expansion. Analysts describe it as a structural tightening.
Pakistan Within a Global Intake
Pakistani workers are included in the 2026 quota as part of South Korea’s established overseas labor arrangements. Authorities in Seoul and Islamabad confirm Pakistan remains among the recognized labor-sending states under official channels.
This inclusion does not expand access. Instead it places Pakistan within a more competitive global intake alongside countries such as Vietnam, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The reduced cap increases pressure across all participating systems.
Seasonal Worker Quota Increased for 2026
Alongside the reduced main quota, South Korea expanded its seasonal labor intake to 109,000 workers for 2026. This channel focuses on short-cycle agricultural and fishery work and runs parallel to the main permit system.
The contrast highlights a strategic divide. Long-term industrial labor is capped. Short-term rural labor remains flexible.
Observers say this dual track model may become standard in other industrial economies facing similar pressures.
What Happens Next
With the 2026 quota now fixed, industries are expected to adjust through productivity measures and automation. Labor-sending states face added strain as overseas outlets tighten at the same time.
Specific number of workers taken from each linked country will be announced soon by the South Korean authorities.
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