URGENT request for support for Migrant Workers
The Korean government announced that on March 25 to May 25 'Voluntary Reporting Period' wherein undocumented workers will be exempted from various penalty if they report to the authorities or register voluntarily. The one year moratorium will give the migrant to prepare before departure at the maximum of one year. Such announcement and moratorium is a preventive measure aimed to stop the sharp rise of undocumented migrants.
The Equality Trade Union-Migrants Branch would like to request support from you and your organizations.
The 'Voluntary Reporting Period' is set on March 25 until May 25, 2002 wherein undocumented workers will be exempted from various penalty if they report to the authorities or register voluntarily. The one year supposed moratorium will give the migrant to prepare before departure at the maximum of one year. Such announcement and moratorium is a preventive measure aimed to stop the sharp rise of undocumented migrants.
As a strategy of the Korean government sweep all the undocumented migrants, the registration and the upcoming crackdown for undocumented migrants after May 25, is a set to cause difficulties to migrants. In fact such a measure is tends to purge the migrants instead of addressing their real issue and demand.
We believe that this deportation strategy is in line with the Government's agenda to maintain the Trainee System and implement the new Employment Permit System (EPS) for the new comers. Both the Trainee and the new Employment Permit system is and will not actually resolve the increasing number of undocumented migrants, as more migrants will experience more and more human rights violation. (Attached is a copy of our statement regarding the government's policy.)
We in the Equality Trade Union-Migrants Branch under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, will have a protest action on April 7 to express our strong opposition to this governments scheme. At the same time, we will mobilize migrant workers, Korean workers and NGO's and other support groups to express our demand of "Genuine Legalization and Work permit for currently undocumented migrants here in Korea. A rally will be held wherein migrants and representatives from KCTU and other NGO will spek out on the program.
In this regard we are requesting you to send support letter for the activity not late than April 7. We will read and circulate your messages on that same day. In addition may we also request you to share the statement to other NGO's in your countries.
We are hoping for your valued support and solidarity.
Respectfully yours,
Yi Yoon Joo
Chief of the Equality Trade Union-Migrants' Branch
2002 / -0 / 4-
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