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No to 'Voluntary Reporting' as the deportation policy!
Stop the mockery on the 260,000 undocumented migrant workers.
Immediately Establish fundamental measure
to improve the Migrant Workers Situation!

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 reventive measure aimed to stop the sharp rise of undocumented migrants.

The government is using a double bladed sword in order to increase the rate of reporting and registration by encouraging the employers to register their workers and they will be exempted from penalty while to at the same period will be conducting a massive crackdown to migrants. Its so terrible to see how deceitful such a policy is. Migrant worker who will register will not be treated as a legal documented worker, but a worker on such a limited time until the designated date of departure on the plane ticket. The only difference for those who will register is being free from the panic of crackdown during designated period within one year. But the for sure they will have to be deported because of the information they give.

If the undocumented migrant worker registers but will not depart home on the designated date, the surveillance and control will be so severe in the factories, aside that the employer will have to pay the penalty because they will be asked to guarantee the departure date of the migrants. Besides, in addition, if he or she is a long-term stayer, there is no guarantee that they will be granted a one-year stay as they expect or worst they will immediately deported for being a long-term stayer. Above all, the Immigration Office will conduct a severe crackdown and can easily arrest many migrants because of the information of migrant workers.

Many employers respond negatively to the report policy of government since they know the fact that this will kill small-sized companies. This policy is a coarse policy that would lead to failure because of low application like the substitution employment policy implemented during the IMF financial crisis.

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. We know.
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.
EPS is the new policy adapted by the Korean government in order to control the employment of directly. A section of the migrants-support NGO & the ruling party (Millenium Democratic party) try to make the law---EPS but they fail because of KFSB who worry about the profit from the current
Trainee System will be reduced. Through the government's announcement we can now see the true agenda behind the EPS. The true nature of the EPS is that it will strictly regulate the migrant to be employed in the future that they will be ensured not to transfer in other work places. The EPS states that the migrants will be given the labor rights but in reality it is not different. In fact it prohibits the rights to strike and prevent workers unity. This way, they can easily eliminate the
migrant workers. This is certainly it is worse than the Trainee system.

One thing is for sure, that the EPS is the law made only for the new-comers and not for the currently working in Korea. As the EPS is going to be implemented, we are gradually being forced to go home. The Governments plan to repatriate is being in initiated now. And we shall expect a an intensified Crack-down & arresting, Penalty, amnesty and this Registration.

As the violation of human rights of illegal staying undocumented workers is raised as a social issue, Korean government tried to enact 'Employment Permit System', and intends
to wipe-out all undocumented migrant workers.

In addition to 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'. They even tried to disguise this as a step for legalization. Korean government should know what a shameful behaviour it is.

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 for illegal stayer with deeper thinking. 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.

Lastly, we express our refusal to the deceitful 'Voluntary Reporting'. We will refuse to registration policy! We will exert an intensified strength for organizing and lead the struggle in achieving true legalization.

March 25, 2002

EQUALITY TRADE UNION -Migrants' Branch (ETU-MB)