A system that will allow the legal employment of foreign workers is scheduled to go into effect next month.

Under the foreign laborer work permit system, small-and medium-sized business firms having difficulties hiring local workers can hire foreign workers for up to three years after obtaining permission from the government.

The Ministry of Labor said the new permit system will take effect on August 17th. The new system is replacing the industrial trainee system that was widely blamed for an increase in illegal foreign workers in the nation.

Business firms to benefit from the new system include manufacturing companies with less than 300 employees, agricultural and dairy firms, and constructors undertaking projects worth more than 30 billion won.

The ministry added that starting next month, it will strengthen its crackdown on illegal foreign workers in cooperation with the Justice Ministry. Statistics show the number of illegal aliens working in the nation has recently grown to some 150,000.