Small and medium-sized enterprises pay an average of 3.02 million won to foreign workers, including board and lodging.

The average labor cost paid by small and medium-sized companies to foreign workers is well over 3 million won.

According to a survey of 1,200 small and medium-sized manufacturing companies employing foreign workers by the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses, the average labor cost per person, including accommodation and lodging for foreign workers, was 3,024,000 won.

Excluding room and board, it is about 2,638,000 won, including 2.09 million won in basic salary, 425,000 won in overtime pay, and 82,000 won in additional expenses.

In addition, more than half (57.7%) of the companies responded that the labor cost level of foreign workers is higher than that of Koreans.

The biggest difficulty in managing foreign workers was the low Korean level at 66.7%, followed by frequent requests for business change at 49.3%.

In addition, all companies agreed that low productivity required a probationary period for foreign workers, and the required period was four months.

Lee Myung-ro, head of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, said, "In order to increase the low productivity of foreign workers, education to improve Korean communication skills is essential before entering the country," stressing that it is time to strengthen vocational training such as basic skills.