Editorial in today's Hankyoreh:
Recognizing migrant worker’s human rights
The Ministry of Justice deported Minu (real name Minod Moktan), an undocumented migrant worker and cultural activist from Nepal, Friday evening. This rush to get him out of South Korea took place despite the fact that a suit was filed at the Seoul Administrative Court requesting the cancellation of the deportation order. That means that Minu, who had lived in South Korea for some 18 years, was not even afforded the opportunity to appeal to the courts. This attitude clearly shows how intolerant South Korea’s migrant worker policy is.
As domestic and overseas human rights groups have repeatedly pointed out, South Korea’s policy on migrant workers is riddled with problems. First and foremost, there is an utter lack of any sense of grace. Moreover, we have a weak framework for guaranteeing human rights. Yet the government, rather than taking measures to reduce the suffering of undocumented migrant workers, instead has focused its energies on finding and deporting them. In addition to exposing undocumented migrant workers to even more shame and contempt during crackdowns, some are exposed to the possibility of losing their lives.
We can no longer stand by and watch this situation unfolding before our eyes. We must actively consider how integrate these workers as full members of South Korean society. The reasons for this are manifold. In economic terms, migrant workers are propping up small and medium businesses by taking on the jobs that Koreans shun. Few would deny that there are a wide range of businesses that would be forced to halt operations without migrant workers. In addition, migrant workers labor under far worse conditions than many Koreans do. Due to problems with the employment permit system, those who try to fight back against unjust treatment by employers risk losing their jobs or being deported. Nor is it easy to change jobs, and even those who have determined to change jobs must find new work within a specified period of time or else are forced to leave South Korea. The gist of the current policy is essentially to treat these workers like slaves for three years and then send them on their way.
Another reason we must reach out to them includes the international community’s watchful eye on the conditions of and policy for South Korea’s migrant workers, as was highlighted when an Amnesty International investigator recently commented that migrant workers here are treated as “disposable.” Some are even viewing these problems in terms of racism. South Korea must thoroughly reexamine its problem-riddled migrant worker policy, even if only to become a respected member of the international community.
The painful reality faced by migrant workers is one of the most shameful sights in South Korean society, a shame that no member of South Korean society should ignore. The Lee administration has been talking a lot about South Korea’s “national standing” recently, but it is mere hypocrisy to talk about “national standing” while turning its back on migrant workers.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_editorial/383920.html
Recognizing migrant worker’s human rights
The Ministry of Justice deported Minu (real name Minod Moktan), an undocumented migrant worker and cultural activist from Nepal, Friday evening. This rush to get him out of South Korea took place despite the fact that a suit was filed at the Seoul Administrative Court requesting the cancellation of the deportation order. That means that Minu, who had lived in South Korea for some 18 years, was not even afforded the opportunity to appeal to the courts. This attitude clearly shows how intolerant South Korea’s migrant worker policy is.
As domestic and overseas human rights groups have repeatedly pointed out, South Korea’s policy on migrant workers is riddled with problems. First and foremost, there is an utter lack of any sense of grace. Moreover, we have a weak framework for guaranteeing human rights. Yet the government, rather than taking measures to reduce the suffering of undocumented migrant workers, instead has focused its energies on finding and deporting them. In addition to exposing undocumented migrant workers to even more shame and contempt during crackdowns, some are exposed to the possibility of losing their lives.
We can no longer stand by and watch this situation unfolding before our eyes. We must actively consider how integrate these workers as full members of South Korean society. The reasons for this are manifold. In economic terms, migrant workers are propping up small and medium businesses by taking on the jobs that Koreans shun. Few would deny that there are a wide range of businesses that would be forced to halt operations without migrant workers. In addition, migrant workers labor under far worse conditions than many Koreans do. Due to problems with the employment permit system, those who try to fight back against unjust treatment by employers risk losing their jobs or being deported. Nor is it easy to change jobs, and even those who have determined to change jobs must find new work within a specified period of time or else are forced to leave South Korea. The gist of the current policy is essentially to treat these workers like slaves for three years and then send them on their way.
Another reason we must reach out to them includes the international community’s watchful eye on the conditions of and policy for South Korea’s migrant workers, as was highlighted when an Amnesty International investigator recently commented that migrant workers here are treated as “disposable.” Some are even viewing these problems in terms of racism. South Korea must thoroughly reexamine its problem-riddled migrant worker policy, even if only to become a respected member of the international community.
The painful reality faced by migrant workers is one of the most shameful sights in South Korean society, a shame that no member of South Korean society should ignore. The Lee administration has been talking a lot about South Korea’s “national standing” recently, but it is mere hypocrisy to talk about “national standing” while turning its back on migrant workers.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_editorial/383920.html
