{"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