Koreans welcomes Equal rights for migrant workers

70 % of Koreans hope to embrace multicultural society

Seven out of 10 people in Korea, one of the world’s most homogeneous nations, support the idea of promoting and safeguarding cultural diversity through a constitutional amendment, a recent survey by The Korea Times showed.

When asked whether the Constitution should add a clause that Korea encourages cultural diversity to reflect the country’s changing demographics, 69.8 percent of the surveyed expressed their support for the proposal.

Only 20.1 percent of the 1,000 respondents opposed the idea, while 10.1 percent replied that they were unsure or declined to comment.

The number of foreigners residing in Korea was estimated to be over 1.2 million, or roughly 2.4 percent of the country’s population, as of September this year, according to the Korea Immigration Service.

The population of foreigners has been growing fast. It has nearly doubled from 747,467 in 2005.

The number of naturalized citizens accounted for 80,832 in 2009 and some 100,000 foreigners have applied or expressed their willingness to apply for naturalization to become a Korean citizen.

The survey clearly shows that younger people are more open minded to Korea becoming a multicultural society, while older people are more resistant.

In the poll, 80.6 percent of people in their 20s supported a constitutional guarantee of cultural diversity, nearly 30 percent higher than those in their 60s or older.

Only 50.8 percent of those in their 60s or older said they liked the idea.

Equal pay to migrant workers?

A majority of Koreans believe that migrant workers are also entitled to equal pay for equal work, the survey found.

When asked whether the country should revise the basic law so that the principle of equal pay for equal work can be enforced by courts in cases of discrepancy due to unequal pay to migrant workers, 65 percent of the respondents said they agreed to the need.

Only 29.7 percent, less than one out of three Koreans opposed it, while 5.3 percent replied that they were unsure or declined to comment.

The Bill of Rights in the Constitution stipulates all of its citizens shall not be discriminated on the grounds of gender, religion and social status and they are entitled to equal treatment in their social, political, economic and cultural activities.

The bill, however, falls short of stating fundamental rights entitled to foreigners, leaving room for unethical employers to exploit the legal loophole.

Latest surveys show that the average wage of migrant workers was around 1.2 million won ($980) a month.

In September 2009, Rep. Jun Byung-hun of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) pledged to submit an anti-discrimination bill, one of the first legal attempts in Korea to define racism and set punishments for racist acts, including discriminatory wages based on nationality or color of skin.

The two-term lawmaker, however, has yet to submit it to the National Assembly for fear that it would end his political career, sources said.

In fact, the proposed legislation triggered an avalanche of criticism when Jun posted the draft of the racial discrimination bill on his website on Sept. 6 last year to gather public opinion.

When The Korea Times analyzed 210 comments posted on the website in March this year with regard to his original proposal, it showed that 94 percent of the online commentators were adamantly against it.

Due to such a strong backlash, Rep. Jun revised his bill and removed a clause on wage discrimination based on race. He then urged his liberal party to adopt his revised anti-racism bill as an official party platform but the DP declined, the lawmaker said.

Experts attribute such a strong resistance to the anti-racism movement in Korea to a group of activists that organize negative campaigns against politicians sympathetic to foreigners, especially in cyberspace.

They say offline opinion surveys reflect the general opinion of the public far better than the biased online posts.

When lawmaker Jun conducted a telephone survey on an anti-discrimination law, more than 60 percent of the respondents supported it.

Migrant workers’ freedom to switch jobs

Under the act on foreigner workers’ employment, migrant workers cannot change their workplaces more than three times, even if they have the extremely bad luck to lose three jobs because their companies go bankrupt or they had to quit due to unfair treatment.

When the paper asked whether the regulation should be lifted, 54.3 percent of respondents agreed, while 34.7 percent of them disagreed.

By age, 65.7 percent in their 20s welcomed the removal of the discriminatory clause, followed by 59.3 percent of those in their 30s, 58.1 percent in their 40s, 48.4 percent in their 50s and 38.3 percent in their 60s or older.

The limit in switching jobs is known as one of the main causes leading to abuse and delayed wages from employers. It is also one of the main reasons for migrants workers to not abide by the law and end up becoming illegal workers.

The Korea Immigration Service estimates that more than 171,000 foreigners in Korea are undocumented.

Currently, the Constitutional Court is reviewing whether the restriction on the number of job changes violates the basic law, but many are skeptical that the court would side with migrant workers unless the Bill of Rights is revised through a national referendum.

Suffrage to dual citizens

In contrast to lingering discrimination against migrant workers, a selected number of foreigners with outstanding talents will be immediately granted the special privilege of Korean citizenship and the right to vote without denouncing their original citizenship from next year.

When asked whether a minimum period of stay is necessary for dual citizenship holders before exercising their right to participate in local elections, more than three out of four respondents answered that at least a one-year stay in Korea is a must.

Only 15.5 percent answered that such a restriction is unnecessary.

Of the surveyed, 27.7 percent replied that a minimum stay of 2 to 3 years is ideal, followed by four to five years with 22 percent and more than five years with 17.7 percent.

Despite such opposition, foreign talent who acquire a dual citizenship beginning next year will be able to vote in local elections to pick lawmakers and the president.

The National Assembly passed a revision in April that will permit multiple-citizenship to people meeting certain conditions from 2011, as part of efforts to prevent a brain drain and attract talented foreigners.

Under the revision, exceptionally talented foreign nationals will be able to obtain Korean citizenship without renouncing their initial one.

Multiple citizenship holders will also be exempt from military service.

Lawmakers failed to discuss whether it would be OK to grant suffrage to them right away.

Under the current law, it takes a minimum of two years for those married to a Korean national to acquire Korean citizenship, and five years for other foreigners.

Previously, the Korean government neither allowed dual citizenship nor immediately granted the privilege upon application.


Source: Korea Times

Sana ma-improve yung pabibigay ng permanent residency or korean citizenship.

Tumawag kc ako sa immigration last week (hotline 1345) to inquire if pwede na ako mag apply dyan...Grabe ang requirements na binigay...mabibigat...sino kaya sa atin pwede dyan?

1. Minimum 5yrs stay in Korea ( 9yrs na ako...pasado )

2. Minimum 44,000,000 won salary in a year or 3.7M monthly sahod (halos nasa kalahati lang sahod ko dyan...bagsak).

3. Dapat ipasa ang grade 3 level korean language by interview and writen exam ( bagsak me dyan...heheheh)

4. Minimum bachelor degree (pasado).

5. Recommendation from high rank officer in company preferrably director or CEO position ( OK payag mga bossing ko).

Pero in total ay bagsak pa rin ako....

Very willing ang company ko na mag permanent residency ako dito or mag korean citizen pero napakahigpit naman requirements ng immigration....

Sana mabago mga yan in the next couple of months....

mabigat nga ang requirements,parang ayaw parin nilang may mga ma citizen.

taas naman po ng minimum salary na required nila,. sana base na lang nila sa annual salary o kaya base nila sa 44,000,000 won na ipon mo sa bank pwde pa un hehehe.. at hndi ung sobrang taas hmmm..

for the meantime, let's just be contented with what we have. what is important is we are working and covered with some of the their laws, we can modestly provide the needs of our family in the Philippines. if their laws can be improved which can be of beneficial to migrant workers like ours, that is an added bonus....

Mabuhay all OFWs!

Tama ka dyan sir ernie...

mabuhay kayo ofw's

mabuhay din kami na kakapasa lang ng eps ^^

Pano kikita ng 3.6M a month kung ayaw nila ibigay equal pay sa migrant workers? Bawal din ang dalawa trabaho. Wala sa hulog tsk tsk

grabee sila..samantalang mga koreano sa pinas.. haaay..talaga naman.. bat kasi di naging parte ng amerika pinas.. e di sana.. qualified tayo maging resident... kc yung mga kano..gaganda ng visa nila lalo na yung mga native speaker..

good day to all

sad to say, but it is a fact that we belong to 3rd world countries, hence; we cannot enjoy the benefits of 1st world countries, and as much as we don't like, we are still experiencing racial discrimination because of the past history of our land, and the current situation of it.
nevertheless, we must not discouraged with all of these, let's just try to strive our best and make a difference from other migrant workers, even if we are Filipino, i believe we can make a difference out of our own. let us try not to compare ours from others, blame others and make regret, let's try to be thankful with the blessings (whatever it is) we receive.... in the end, i know all the sacrifices and hardwork will be paid of....

Mabuhay All OFWs!

lets just respect the rules and hope for change. lets pray that Rep. Jun Byung-hun will pursue his bill (racial discrimination bill).