S. Korea: Govt. cuts entire budget for key migrant worker support centre, while planning increase in overseas recruitment
"Shuttering all foreign worker support centers, S. Korea leaves migrants to fend for themselves,"
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If Islam hadn’t sought the help of a foreign worker support center, he would most likely have become an “illegal” immigrant. In reality, many workers in South Korea end up undocumented under similar circumstances: After experiencing harassment by employers or fellow Korean employees, they flee their workplaces, which results in them losing their documented status.
Under current laws in Korea, migrant workers cannot change workplaces without their employer granting permission. Thanks to the foreign worker support center, Islam was able to file a police report about his assault and find different opportunities for work... The Uijeongbu center is the only such foreign worker support center in northern Gyeonggi Province. Migrant workers come from Uijeongbu, Dongducheon and Pocheon, as well as from other districts in Gyeonggi Province and neighboring Gangwon Province.
From January through October 2023 alone, the center has conducted 30,767 consultations. However, the center will close next year as a result of the government cutting the entire 7.18 billion won (US$5.58 million) budget for foreign worker support centers like it nationwide.
Despite shuttering all centers dedicated to ensuring the rights of foreign workers, the government is planning to increase the number of foreigners working in South Korea to 120,000 in 2024.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor has said that regional employment and labor offices would conduct counseling and education directly, but those in the field say this is “completely unrealistic.”...
Another problem that the closure of these centers poses is the collapse of the networks formed by the centers and migrant workers. For most migrant workers, their relationship with the Korean government is incredibly one-sided, with the government’s main job being to crack down and deport them. That will make it difficult for those in need to voluntarily visit offices run by the government to seek help...