Reign of Terror hits migrant workers
The months of June and July have been times of terror and nightmare for migrant workers in Korea. In fact, it has always been a nightmare - but their fear reached a peak as the Immigration Office recently took on a hard stance against migrant workers and set about on a hunt.
Source : PICIS
The months of June and July have been times of terror and nightmare for migrant workers in Korea. In fact, it has always been a nightmare - but their fear reached a peak as the Immigration Office recently took on a hard stance against migrant workers and set about on a hunt.
The Korea Immigration Office announced the period from 18th June to be the voluntary appearance period for illegal migrant workers. Only 4 workers turned up voluntarily and now the Office decided to use force, despite the fact that the 'voluntary' appearance period has not terminated. Since 18th June, around 200 migrant workers have been arrested each day, totalling 2,000 during the last month. Some have been taken from their homes, some from public buses and other from the market or workplace. On 28th June, 100 workers in the Ilsan area were arrested just that day. Once arrested, they are stowed away to 'protection facilities' which can only be called overcrowded prisons. They can remain 'imprisoned' for weeks, until reluctant employers pay for their airfare, or in the cases of laid-off workers, until friends and supporters have scraped up enough money. Then they are deported.
From the beginning of July, workers, students and activists from the Equality Trade Union Migrant Workers Branch have consistently held demonstrations in front of the Immigration Office, although only Koreans could participate. Immigration officers and police did not hesitate to forcefully disperse and beat the demonstrators. Demonstrators demanded a stop to the 'hunt', the amnesty of unregistered migrant workers and the abolishment of the trainee system.
The lives of illegal migrant workers in Korea are shaded by constant fear of arrest and deportation. When rumours arise that immigration officers are out and around, workers spend hours hidden underneath their beds or in boxes. There was one episode in the Euijeongbu area, where an emergency bell installed to be used when officers make their rounds went off by mistake, and dozens of workers all ran out at the same time in fear of being caught. In the midst of this chaos, many were injured - some with bone fractures. This is just one story among many that manifest the intimidated everyday life of illegal migrant workers in Korea.
Migrant workers have increased disproportionately during the last few years, as countries in South-East Asia were hit by unprecedented expansion of poverty due to neo-liberal policies adopted after the economic crisis. Capitalists in Korea also yearned for cheaper labour which has increased the demand for illegal migrants. The fact that the workers are illegal gives a merit to capitalists in a way that the workers' vulnerability enables the capitalists to employ or lay-off workers at their will; give the workers meagre wages or none at all. They are often victims of industrial accidents, which neither the employers nor the government take responsibility for. They are left to be deported in destitute conditions, many with a part of their limb missing.
It is an already proven case that neo-liberalism requires a double standard on migration as was the case with Latin Americans in the US after the promulgation of NAFTA - tightening state control against migration while at the same time 'pardoning' widespread exploitation of migrant workers in the name of corporate efficiency.
It is expected that this series of oppression against migrant workers is only a beginning, as more and more migrants pour into Korea while more and more will be outlawed under the present trainee system.
2001 / -0 / 7-
|
