S. Korea: CSOs & union say High Court ruling on migrant worker compensation highlights “racist” treatment for migrant fishers
Summary
Date Reported: 1 Dec 2023
Location: South Korea
Other
Not Reported ( Fishing ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: 1
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( 1 - Vietnam , Fishing , Men , Unknown migration status )Issues
Injuries , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Access to Justice & Legal Protection , Occupational Health & Safety , Racial, ethnicity, caste or origin discriminationResponse
Response sought: No
Action taken: The Vietnamese national filed a lawsuit to cancel and redress the calculation, to which the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in his favor. The Seoul High Court, however, dismissed his request in October 2023 and decided that underpaying foreign workers is justifiable.
Source type: News outlet
“Rights activists criticize wage discrimination against migrant boat crews”
A migrant workers' union and civic activists lambasted the Seoul High Court’s ruling…Describing the latest ruling as "racist," the union urged the Supreme Court to overrule the decision as Korea grows increasingly dependent on foreign laborers…
Their call came months after the Seoul High Court overturned a ruling … that ordered a local company to make a fair compensation to a migrant sailor…
…the head of the Migrants' Trade Union, called the high court’s decision “racist” and demanded that the Supreme Court make a fair ruling and acknowledge the right of foreign workers to receive proper wages for their work.
…a Vietnamese migrant broke his right shoulder blade and lost his right thumb while reeling in metal-wired fishing nets on a Korean boat…
…he only received 1.86 million won ($1,400) per month in compensation, which is less than half of the average 4.5 million won given to Korean fishermen…
…the Vietnamese national filed a lawsuit to cancel and redress the calculation, to which the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in his favour. The Seoul High Court, however, dismissed his request in October this year and decided that underpaying foreign workers is justifiable…