Welcome to BASE21

By Cho Soong-ho
Staff Reporter
As a way of clean up last year and searching for new prospects, first executive officers' workshop was held at the Missionary Education Center, Seoul Presbyterianism for January 8 to 9. Though all of member staffs could not attend the workshop, some of officers from various cities like Kwangju, Maseok, Pusan, Bucheon, Seoul, Suwon, Ansan, Incheon, Jincheon gathered and had serious discussion.
The workshop is mainly focused on education to well-going process of projects and to review activities of year 2000 to give right direction to business.
It was proceeded with evaluation of activities and prospects of 2001 by Director Park Sok-un and Kim Ae-hwa from Labor Human Right and gave practical education related work conditions by cases and free discussion by attending members.

Scolding for leaping
Late arrived Park due to legislative activities related to Human Rights Act Bill, opened his lecture with bitter indication. To review on last year's activities of the Joint Committee for Migrant Workers in Korea, JCMK, he asked whether it is colored as migrant worker's movements or supporting them. He also added that our direction should be well matched up with other
associations, labor unions, migrant worker's organizations and migrant support centers.
Browsing from short history of trainee system that adopted in 1991 to present, he pointed out we have no satisfactory after President Kim Dae-jung's Nobel Prize or consensus with labour union to improve and this must be inner factor.
From first quarter last year to CEDMW, internal debate was not activated, systemic campaign were not held though nation have common sense on it. failed to absorb leading opinion and politics. As he predicts human right related acts will be heated again when extraordinary session of the National Assembly will be hold in February, JCMK need to reflect on itself and prepare alternative plan.

Is EPS Alternative
In Q & A period, employment permission and work permission were explained to participants.
Director Park reminded migrant workers bill was based on work permit system (WPS) ssion in 1996 and some part of JCMK insisted on adopting employment permit system(EPS) because of lack of sufficient understanding.
He said claim on "complete free of migrant work" is neglecting reality that of a nation and expressed his concern on importing indifferent labour power that is probably bring weakness to nation's labour.
According to Park, not just object to adopt EPS itself, we need to be based on abolishing trainee system and revise level of government's EPS first then move to WPS. This is meaningful because migrant workers would obtain legal statue and that to joint with other labour union in Korea.

Direction of year activities - Scientifical, detailed, systemic
Before starting lecture on labour laws, he asked to review on last year activities and reminded the National Assembly has the key to improved system. ① Centered to JCMK, pay effort on joint to democratic citizen organization ② Scientifical, detailed, systemic leaded work of public opinion ③ Separate KFSB from employers of general small and medium size industries. ④ Continuos struggle on abolishing trainee system, adopting work/employment permission, pardon on undocumented migrant workers.
At the same time, he requested center to be devout that migrant workers' organization to be quality.

For better acts...
Till late night after Park's lecture, participants had discussion about where JCMK will head to.
Mr. An Seong-kun, General Secretary of JCMK, proposed to network of each centers and medical care. Many agreed to it and revise in detail in near future. As many participants were their first time attending the workshop, they agreed on permanent education program.
But most of our discussion that night were JCMK itself. First, inside of the committee, it needs to build reform group to fix up some problems. To bring political power, select a chairperson. Second, we agreed to publish the 'Labour and Equality', a JCMK's periodical in Korean again. At the general assembly, character of articles and direction will be decided when editing board is ready.
Third, related to local network, practical officer's network is needed to be reorganize as special duty. They can able to revise and decide as representative.
The workshop in new year ended. Because of short hours of schedule, not every officer could join but the participants could gain our knowledge and exchanged ideas. Mr. An Seong-kyun, Secretary General of JCMK promised to call such meetings more often that he thinks this is also important to tie up every groups.