[re] 613홍보물 (한글판) > 자료실

We are not disposables!
Migrant Workers in Korea have been continuing the sit-in struggle in Myung-dong for over 200 days.
- The Solidarity For The Legalization of Migrant Workers -

Migrant Workers in Korea have been continuing the sit-in struggle in Myungdong for over 200 days, against the government's horrible crackdown and for the legalization of all migrant workers in Korea.
There are 400,000 migrant workers in Korea now. Until 1991, Korean government did not have any reasonable policy for the migrant workers though migrant workers had started coming into Korea since 1987. Most Migrant workers were in the terrible working condition and exposed to lots of violation of human rights. As some migrant workers began to struggle, the government started so called "Trainee System", which was based on Japanese model. According to the trainee system, migrant workers cannot be protected by any labor laws because they are not "workers" but "trainees". They cannot move their working places, and also they just get some small amount of pocket money under the name of "subsidy".
In the result of the exploitative trainee system, lots of "trainees" became non-registered migrant workers, so called, "illegal workers".  As non-registered workers increased to 80% of whole migrant workers, lots of problem such as violations of human rights, frequent accidents in the factories, low wages etc. were also issued. Under the pressure of the human right movement, the government announced they are going to start "Employment Permit System" from August in 2003, which is based on the model of Taiwan and USA. 
According to the EPS, migrant workers are able to work in Korea for 5 years at the most. With this time limit, Korean government is trying to prevent migrant workers from settling down in Korea permanently while exploiting them. What is worse, workers must not move their working places. Also they must renew the contract with their employers every 1 year. For this reason, they cannot say anything to their bosses in any bad situation. The moment that the contract is terminated, they become illegal.
To launch the EPS in August, the government has been cracking down on the non-registered migrant workers since November, 2003. Lots of migrant workers had to find their ways to get away from the horrible crackdown. Some hid in their houses or factories, sometimes in rural areas. Others went on sit-in struggles in solidarity together. More than 10 migrant workers had committed suicide just for a month since the terrible crackdown started. Also small factories has been seriously in the need of workers.
Myungdong Struggle Team, composed of Nepalese and Bangladesh, has been keeping on their sit-in struggle since last November against the deceptive EPS, and for the legalization of all migrant workers in Korea.

The following is their demands.
1. Abolition of the Trainee System
1. Adoption of the Work Permit System
1. Labors Three Primary Rights
1. Freedom of Moving Working Places
1.  Release of All Migrant Workers in Detention Center

You will be welcomed anytime you visit the Myungdong Sit-in Struggle Team

How to come : Take subway Line no. 4 to Myungdong Station and come out Exit 6. Or take Line no. 2 to Uljiro Ilga. Then come to the Myungdong Church ("Myungdong Sungdang"). In front of the gate of the church, you can see the struggle team's tent.
CALL : 019-425-4548

Migrant Workers Sit-in Struggle Team : http://migrant.nodong.net/sitin

The Solidarity for the Legalization of Migrant Workers www.stopcrackdown.net
 
Struggle and Rice http://bab.gg.gg