Plans for South Korean shipyards to hire Vietnamese welders to ease labour shortages have been delayed after recruitment agencies were found to have supplied fake documentation.

Some 1,100 Vietnamese welders were denied entry into South Korea after employment documents were found to be forged and workers’ skills did not qualify them for work permits, according to local news agencies.

South Korea requires a minimum of two years of welding experience to be employed under the E-7 work visa.