The Number of Migrant Workers Facing Unpaid Wages Surges
The Need to Prioritize Labor Rights for Migrant Workers
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of migrant workers who are experiencing difficulties in receiving their wages. While the government plans to further expand the employment of migrant workers in the future, experts argue that the existing system must be improved to ensure their labor rights.
A Cambodian Migrant Worker’s Struggle
A Cambodian woman, who arrived in South Korea last January envisioning the “Korean Dream,” found herself trapped in a harsh reality of grueling labor and meager pay at a vegetable farm in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province.
She reveals, “The employer promised to pay one million won per week for the accumulated unpaid wages, but failed to fulfill this commitment. To this day, I have yet to receive approximately 9.73 million won.”
Another worker from the same farm, Mr. B, echoes her sentiments. He states, “I have not received the 12 million won I earned nor six months’ worth of salary.”
The issue of unpaid wages among migrant workers is growing more severe. Since 2019, the unpaid wage arrears have surpassed 100 billion won annually, reaching 122.3 billion won last year.
Limitations of Existing Relief Measures
Although there are measures in place to support these workers, their effectiveness is limited. The salary arrears guarantee insurance system is only applicable up to 4 million won and becomes useless if businesses do not enroll in the insurance.
Furthermore, the “simplified payment” guaranteed by the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service does not apply to workplaces with fewer than five employees. Considering that almost half of migrant workers are employed in small businesses, this significantly restricts their access to support.
On top of these challenges, migrant workers face the burden of proving their unpaid wages, which poses a significant obstacle, especially for those who are less proficient in the Korean language.
Restrictions on Migrant Workers’ Mobility
Migrant workers who enter South Korea under the “Employment Permit System” face considerable difficulties in leaving exploitative workplaces. They are only allowed to change their workplace a maximum of three times, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor exclusively determines their new work location.
Therefore, experts argue that the government, which has a monopoly on the employment arrangement and contracts of migrant workers through the “Employment Permit System,” should take an active role in resolving the issue of unpaid wages.
Prioritizing Minimum Labor Rights
While the government plans to recruit an additional 120,000 migrant workers next year to address the shrinking working population, it is crucial to prioritize guaranteeing the minimum labor rights for those who contribute to the nation’s workforce.
Photographer: Shim Won-bo
Graphics: Ji Kyung-yoon
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[앵커]
The number of migrant workers suffering from unpaid wages is increasing.
The government plans to increase the number of migrant workers in the future, but some point out that the system that can guarantee their labor rights should be improved first.
This is reporter Tae-in Yoon’s report.
[기자]
A Cambodian woman who has worked in a vegetable farm in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province since last January.
I came to Korea dreaming of the so-called ‘Korean Dream’, but the only reality I faced was high intensity labor and low wages.
[A 씨 / 캄보디아 이주노동자 : 사장님이 약속하긴 했어요. 밀린 임금 한 주에 100만 원씩 주겠다고, 그런데 그 약속을 지키지 않았어요. 지금까지 973만 원 정도 못 받았어요.]
The position of Mr. B, who has worked on the same farm for a year, no better.
I have not had 12 million salary earned, or six months salary.
As such, the problem of non-payment of migrant workers’ wages is becoming more and more serious.
Since 2019, the amount of arrears has been more than 100 billion won every year, reaching 122.3 billion won last year.
The proportion of victims in all cases of non-payment of wages are migrant workers is constantly increasing, and although there are relief measures, their limitations are clear.
The salary arrears guarantee insurance system has a limit of only 4 million won and is worthless if the business does not sign up for insurance.
In addition, the ‘simplified payment’ guaranteed by the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service does not apply to workplaces with fewer than five employees, and almost half of migrant workers actually work in small businesses.
Moreover, the burden of proving non-payment of wages rests solely with the worker, which is a huge obstacle for migrant workers who are not good in Korea.
[A 씨 / 캄보디아 이주노동자 : 한국말로 신고해야 하는데, 법을 다루는 곳에 가서 한국말로 표현하기가 너무 어렵습니다.]
In the case of migrant workers who have received work visas under the ‘Employment Permit System’, it is not easy to leave a workplace with an unscrupulous employer.
Not only is the number of times you can change your workplace limited to a maximum of three, but you also have no freedom to choose a new workplace due to the regulation that requires you to work in a location determined solely by the Ministry of Employment. Labour.
Therefore, voices say that the government, which monopolizes the employment arrangement and contracts of migrant workers through the ‘Employment Permit System’, should also play an active role in solving the issue of non-payment of wages.
[김이찬 / 지구인의 정류장 대표 : (이주노동자를 고용하는 사람들은) 최소한의 보호장치로 보호할 수 있는 사람들에게만 고용허가를 내야죠.]
The government plans to hire up to 120,000 more migrant workers next year to make up for the rapidly shrinking working population.
However, it is noted that the priority is to guarantee the minimum labor rights for migrant workers who work hard in Korea.
This is Yoon Tae-in’s YTN.
Photographer: Shim Won-bo
Graphics: Ji Kyung-yoon
※ ‘Your report becomes news’
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