President Lee Jae Myung has spoken out against wage theft, calling it a serious offense that merits stern punishment.

Presiding over a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Lee said employers who refuse to pay wages despite being financially capable, or who repeatedly delay payment, must be held accountable.

Referring to data showing that 70 percent of companies that already owe outstanding wages repeat the offense, Lee took issue with the fact that employers can steal wages with impunity. 

The president also urged the justice ministry to look for ways to allow foreign laborers who are owed wages to remain in the country until they are fully paid for their work.

Emphasizing that outstanding wages also adversely impact local business districts and domestic demand, Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon pledged a crackdown in cooperation with local governments, and to disclose a list of repeat offenders starting in October.