이주노동자 숙소비 공제 규정 한․일 비교

South Korea introduced non-professional foreign workers through the Employment Permit System (EPS) since 2004, following the Industrial Trainee Program. The Ministry of Employment and Labor has revised its administrative guidelines and interpretations from ｢The Guidelines on the Provision of Accommodation and Meals Information and Collection of Related Fees for Foreign Workers｣to ｢The Guidelines on Housing for Foreign Workers｣under the EPS. However, the principle remains unchanged: employers are not obligated to bear accommodation costs, and such costs may be collected afterward or deducted in advance from wages only through lawful procedures. Japan, which is preparing to introduce the Specified Skilled Worker system, continues to operate the Technical Intern Training Program; nevertheless, labor laws and regulations apply to technical interns as well. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare allows deductions of accommodation fees from wages, but the detailed requirements for such deductions differ from those under Korea’s guidelines and relevant laws. This article examines the regulations on accommodation fee deductions under Korea's Employment Permit System and Japan's Technical Intern Training Program, and reviews the legality of advance deductions of accommodation fees. The study finds that advance deductions violate the Labor Standards Act’s principles of full and cash wage payment, may contravene the principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination, and may also constitute a violation of the Minimum Wage Act.