Samsung Heavy Industries Hires Foreign Welders to Bridge Labor Shortage
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has hired over 40 welders from Indonesia to work at its Geoje Island yard in South Korea as it struggles to recruit skilled workers, the company said in a press release.
As reported by Oil & Gas, the contractor said that a total of 41 Indonesian welders arrived to work at its offshore and marine yard, and are believed to be the single largest batch of foreign workers to come to South Korea since the government last month relaxed visa regulations in an attempt to help deal with the manpower shortage facing the local shipbuilding industry.
The company also noted that it has hired a total of 782 foreign workers as of December 2022 and are planning to increase the number to around 1200 this year.
SHI said in the press release that it has implemented various support measures and accident prevention measures such as dormitory services, adding local foods to the menu, providing professional interpretation services, incentives, safety educational videos and preparing religious events.
“We have created a task force team for production worker recruitment and will actively respond to the recruitment of not only domestic workers, but also foreign professionals,” said an official from SHI.
