Welcome to BASE21

By Marlen Kim, International Solidarity Desk, ETU-MB
migrant@jinbo.net

An approximately more than 1,000 migrant workers of different nationalities from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, China, Mongolia and the Philippines held a rally [last Saturday] to express opposition to the "registration" policy of the Korean Ministry of Justice and Immigration Department as it intends to criminalize migrant workers for being undocumented and will provide them the justification to conduct series of massive crackdowns, arrest and deportation. The migrant workers mostly undocumented were joined by korean workers and memebrs of different NGO's.

The mobilization was organized by the Equality Trade Union- Migrants Branch (ETU-MB), the Human Rights Solidarity for Women and Migration and was supported by the Korean Confederation of Trade Union, Seoul Regional Council (KCTU).

According to Ms Yi Yoon Joo, Chief of the ETU-MB, "this 'voluntary registration policy" is a deceitful strategy as it intends to intends to purge out undocumented migrant workers while at the same time criminalize migrant workers for being undocumented and will provide them the justification to conduct series of massive crackdowns, arrest and deportation instead of addressing our real demands.

"As the Kim Dae Jung government amends the system of importing migrant workers through the Trainee System and would implement the Employment System, the current situation migrants is not being addressed. And the real issue of protection on the rights and well-being of migrants remain unchanged if not worsen", Ms Yi added.

She reiterated that this, 'Voluntary Reporting' is deceiving and mocking at all of undocumented migrant workers who have no choice but to work with uneasy as an 'illegal stayer', because there was no way to stay and work legally in Korea, and employers of small-sized company, who could not help employing against the law due to the contradiction of economic structure. They are the victims by wrong policy for migrant labor force of Korean government. Nevertheless, government intend to deport with such a deceitful way, far from submitting fundamental measure for 'legalization'.

"The government of Korea should and must accept the fact that migrants has a dual role in the host country. One of which is their contribution in the economy as a source of cheap and docile labor and on the other hand as an active consumer who purchases goods and avail of services of banks, restaurants, small stores, and so on. But this contributions remains unrecognized and instead their rights are continuously suppressed.

According to Sister Cecilia Lee "We believe that the 'Voluntary Reporting' is a shallow divisive policy of Ministry of Justice which intends to reduce the number of illegal stayers to cope up with the expected rise in the number of illegal or undocumented migrants during the World Cup and the Pusan Asian Games.

We also believe that such a policy aimed to divert the publics attention that more than 260,000 migrants workers who contributed to the Korean economy have been neglected and have been forced to work with an illegal status by the government up to now.

This is to falsely deny its responsibility for the last ten years, which tried to use low-salary labor force by intentionally importing migrants for 3D's and small scale-companies irregardless of being undocumented or illegal stayer". Cecilia Lee said on the press conference.

Cecilia said that, "Though it is clear that the industrial and technical trainees are valuable labor power in much needed industries in Korea, yet, the Korean government treat them as merely trainee deprived of the right and privileges as workers. As trainees, they are not provided with the basic rights of workers that include just wages, unionizing and collective action. Trainees are merely given an allowance instead of wage. They are also forced to work during holidays or if not, during their day-offs. Most of them are also compelled to work over time. They also experience frequent incidence of industrial accidents and they are not entitled to compensation. Management would even send someone to physically and sexually abuse women migrants and give threatening remarks and forcibly deny their wages.

At 11 degrees celsius, migrants and Korean workers held the gathering at the park in Seoul. Representative from different countries speak out about their opinion and feelings about the registration policy and their demands of legalization, recognition of their rights and protection.

Migrants themselves and Korean cultural workers perform different cultural presentation and drama about evils of crackdown, the registration and the sufferings experianced by migrants.

With packards and banners, the migrants and Koreans workers and members of different NGO's marched 3 kilometers form Tongdaemun stadium to the threshold of Myongdong Catholic cathedral. As the marchers move, they sang and chant slogans calling for justice to the migrants workers, Legalization and calling for work permit and abolishing the trainee system.

The activity was concluded by reading and signing the Unity Declaration.

The Korean government should repeal this step. A fundamental measure of protecting and recognizing the currently undocumented or illegal migrants. Given that fact their contribution to the Korean economy is important especially in running the 3D companies and their efficiency in labor skills, the government should guarantee their legalization and protection they deserve. The Korean government should set up the measure of legalizing all the undocumented migrants. "We urge Korean government to improve the past policy and to establish 'measure for legalization of illegal stayer' with sincere attitude and finally take its responsibility, Ms Yi Yoon Joo added.