{"id":2201714,"date":"2023-07-17T17:00:31","date_gmt":"2023-07-17T08:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201714"},"modified":"2023-07-18T18:28:46","modified_gmt":"2023-07-18T09:28:46","slug":"the-cost-of-labor-foreign-workers-face-workplace-hazards-in-south-korea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/07\/the-cost-of-labor-foreign-workers-face-workplace-hazards-in-south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"The cost of labor: Foreign workers face workplace hazards in South Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cSouth Korea cannot sustain its labor market without migrant workers. The recurring incidents of migrant workers\u2019 deaths indicate systemic inadequacies, a lack of guarantee for workplace changes and inherent discrimination,\u201d Udaya Rai, the head of the Migrants\u2019 Trade Union (MTU), told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rai\u2019s remarks come on the heels of a tragic incident involving the <\/span>deaths of five Nepalese migrant workers<\/span><\/a> in June. The advocacy group contends that the deaths are a direct consequence of hazardous working conditions \u2014 a claim that paints a grim picture of the state of migrant labor in the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

Detailed accounts of two recent tragedies present a stark view of the challenges that migrant workers grapple with in South Korea. The narratives underscore daunting working conditions and racial discrimination. These issues have surfaced as the country <\/span>actively courts foreign workers<\/span><\/a> to bridge its severe labor shortages, notably in unskilled sectors.<\/span><\/p>\n

The ROK\u2019s foreign population <\/span>surged by 4%<\/span><\/a> in 2022. This increase comes after the easing of pandemic-related controls in response to the decline in COVID-19 cases. Of these residents, approximately 450,000 constitute migrant workers, with unskilled laborers forming the majority.<\/span><\/p>\n

South Korea\u2019s <\/span>employment permit system<\/span><\/a> allows these unskilled foreign workers to fill positions in sectors that typically confront <\/span>acute labor shortages<\/span><\/a>, such as shipbuilding, heavy industry and agriculture.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite their integral role, a <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> analysis reveals a discernible lack of sufficient labor protections for migrant workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

A Hanwha Ocean shipyard where the world’s largest floating production storage and offloading vessel is being built, July 13, 2023 | Image: Hanwha Ocean<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

DYING ON THE JOB<\/b><\/p>\n

Pulami Tek Bahadur, a 31-year-old migrant worker from Nepal, was found dead in late June by a colleague. The discovery occurred shortly after Bahadur complained of chest and abdominal pain following a work shift at a manufacturing firm that specializes in producing stone building materials.<\/span><\/p>\n

The labor ministry had rejected Bahadur\u2019s request for a job transfer prior to his death, according to a report received by Kang Eun-mee, a legislator from the Justice Party. South Korean regulations allow migrant workers to <\/span>request job transfers<\/span><\/a> if they cannot continue to work due to factors beyond their control, such as labor law infringements, unfair treatment, or poor living conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing on-site inspections and consultation with the concerned employee, we concluded that there was insufficient evidence to suggest that the individual\u2019s illness was severe enough to prevent him from continuing his current work. As such, we found the request for a workplace change unwarranted,\u201d a spokesperson from the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Rai of MTU disputes this narrative. Rai believes that the ministry\u2019s refusal to grant Bahadur\u2019s request for a workplace change contributed to his untimely death. \u201cThe government bears some responsibility for his death by rejecting his request for a workplace change,\u201d Rai stated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe deceased had expressed suffering from abnormal cardiac palpitations due to the physically demanding nature of his job, such as carrying rocks. The union had been assisting his request for a transfer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

An autopsy was not performed due to the family\u2019s refusal. However, a medical diagnosis obtained by <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> suggests that Bahadur was battling gastroenteritis, a digestive system infection, and colitis, a chronic digestive disease characterized by inflammation of the colon lining.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot accept the Ministry of Labor\u2019s rejection of Bahadur\u2019s workplace change request. They failed to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between his illness and work,\u201d Rai added.<\/span><\/p>\n

RACIAL DISCRIMINATION<\/b><\/p>\n

A second Nepalese worker, 24-year-old Chatra Bahadur Basnet, was found dead in his dormitory room in what appears to be a suicide. His death followed alleged experiences of workplace bullying.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe allegations of workplace harassment are baseless. We discussed with the deceased worker about his working environment just a few days before his death, and he expressed satisfaction with his work, even describing it as enjoyable,\u201d Basnet\u2019s former employer told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>, denying the allegations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDespite claims of harassment, none of our interviews with the workers corroborated these allegations. We are left wondering about the origin of these accusations and feel unjustly maligned,\u201d the employer added.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, Rai contends that workplace harassment contributed to Basnet\u2019s suicide. Rai points to a social media post made by a co-worker, which outlines the circumstances leading up to Basnet\u2019s death.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChatra Bahadur Basnet, a recent arrival from Nepal just two months ago, showed up for work yesterday morning. However, he was met with hostility and was instructed not to work by the company. He was sent back to his dormitory with the company asserting they would send him back to Nepal. When he failed to show up for work this morning, I went to check on him in his room, where I discovered that he had taken his own life,\u201d the social media post states.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rai emphasized that migrant workers often face workplace harassment due to power imbalances rooted in racial discrimination, language barriers and limited knowledge of local labor laws.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a <\/span>2022 survey<\/span><\/a> by the Korea Statistical Information Service, 20% of foreigners in South Korea encounter discrimination at their workplaces. The primary reason, cited in 58% of cases, was the individual\u2019s country of origin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Further substantiating these concerns, a <\/span>report<\/span><\/a> by the Seoul Labor Center identified serious problems concerning unpaid wages for foreign workers in South Korea. The report revealed that more than half of the respondents had not received severance pay or overtime wages.<\/span><\/p>\n

The study also underscored that migrant workers seldom sign properly translated employment contracts, with some working without any written contracts.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

A migrant worker in a greenhouse farm, Sept. 5, 2018 | Image: Pexels<\/a><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

PROPOSED CHANGES<\/b><\/p>\n

In the face of recurring occupational hazards confronting migrant workers, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) said it is seeking systemic improvements to mitigate future incidents.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are aware, via civic organizations, of the ongoing deaths among migrant workers due to occupational accidents. There is a trend of increasing sudden deaths and suicide, even if there is no direct evidence to suggest their work directly caused these deaths,\u201d NHRCK spokesperson Lee Sun-young told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

MOEL recently <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> policy changes intended to improve the existing workplace change system. As part of this effort, a support team of experts will be established to facilitate the process of workplace changes for foreign workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe will convene monthly task force meetings to respond promptly to the needs of industrial sites, meticulously review the overall foreign labor system and devise comprehensive measures for foreign labor management,\u201d Bang Mun-gyu, the director of foreign workers management at MOEL, <\/span>said<\/span><\/a> in a statement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it is questionable whether these proposed changes will adequately address the needs of foreign laborers. Certain provisions appear to place restrictions on laborers rather than broaden their options. For instance, some policies limit workplace changes to specific regions to combat rural population decline and restrict transfers within industries facing labor shortages, such as shipbuilding.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe government must strive to provide decent accommodations and fair wages. With the government currently implementing policies to attract migrant workers, it\u2019s crucial that we improve their working conditions and pay heed to their living conditions,\u201d Rai asserted.<\/span><\/p>\n

Edited by John Lee<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Business & Economy<\/span><\/a>Culture & Society<\/span><\/a>Domestic Politics<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cSouth Korea cannot sustain its labor market without migrant workers. The recurring incidents of migrant workers\u2019 deaths indicate systemic inadequacies, a lack of guarantee for workplace changes and inherent discrimination,\u201d Udaya Rai, the head of the Migrants\u2019 Trade Union (MTU), told Korea Pro. Rai\u2019s remarks come on the heels of a tragic incident involving the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10407,"featured_media":2201715,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[24,25,27],"yoast_head":"\nThe cost of labor: Foreign workers face workplace hazards in South Korea - KOREA PRO<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/07\/the-cost-of-labor-foreign-workers-face-workplace-hazards-in-south-korea\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The cost of labor: Foreign workers face workplace hazards in South Korea - KOREA PRO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cSouth Korea cannot sustain its labor market without migrant workers. 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