Following the amendment to Article 24 of the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (hereinafter referred to as the “Foreign Professionals Act”), which took effect on January 1, 2026, professionals who engage in professional work shall be subject to the new labor pension system under the Labor Pension Act (hereinafter referred to as the “new labor pension system”); that is, they shall be covered by the new labor pension system regardless of whether they have obtained permanent residency status. Employers shall, in accordance with the law, contribute no less than 6% of such employees’ monthly wages each month to their individual labor pension accounts established by the Bureau of Labor Insurance (hereinafter referred to as the “BLI”).
The BLI reminds that professionals who were employed prior to the amendment and implementation of the Foreign Professionals Act and who were subject to the Labor Standards Act (hereinafter referred to as the “Labor Standards Act”), and who continue to serve in the same business entity after the amendment, shall become subject to the new labor pension system as of the date the amendment takes effect (i.e., January 1, 2026). However, workers who wish to remain subject to the pension provisions under the Labor Standards Act (i.e., the old labor pension system) shall, within six months from the date of implementation (i.e., before June 30, 2026), provide written notice to their employer. Once a worker elects to remain subject to the old labor pension system, the election may not be changed to the new labor pension system thereafter (workers who elect the old labor pension system are not required to report their election to the BLI). Workers who do not elect to remain subject to the old labor pension system within the prescribed period shall become subject to the new labor pension system as of the date of implementation. Professionals who are employed after the implementation of the amendment to the Foreign Professionals Act and who are subject to the Labor Standards Act shall be subject to the new labor pension system as of their date of employment.
In response to this amendment, transitional provisions have also been established. Where a professional has, in accordance with the law, already obtained permanent residency status before January 1, 2026, and may elect to remain subject to the old labor pension system by notifying the employer but has not yet made such an election, the period for making the election may be extended until June 30, 2026. If no election is made by the deadline, the employer shall make retroactive contributions under the new labor pension system from the date on which the professional obtained permanent residency.
For information regarding contribution procedures for professionals, please refer to the “
Contribution Reporting Procedures for Foreign (Specialist) Professionals” section on the website of the BLI.
For relevant provisions of the Foreign Professionals Act, please refer to the “
Information Page for the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals” established by the National Development Council.