Why S. Korea has almost 400,000 undocumented foreign workers

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Күн бұрын

불법체류자 40만명 육박... 8시간 아닌 24시간 있을 노동자라 생각해야
Nearly 400-thousand foreign laborers... here in South Korea... are reportedly... undocumented.
Our National Assembly Correspondent... Kim Bo-kyoung has more... on this reality... its repercussions... and possible resolutions.
"During the recently-held three-day questioning session at the parliament,... lawmakers asked government officials about a wide range of matters. One lawmaker brought up the issue of undocumented foreign workers."
As of April this year,... some 393-thousand foreign workers are undocumented. That's almost 20 percent of the total number of foreigners in South Korea.
The usual protocol would be to send such workers back to their home countries, but given that most of the undocumented foreign workers are at short-handed workplaces in the agricultural and fisheries sector,... both sides in parliament agreed that this wouldn't be the best way to tackle the problem.
"I think this is an urgent situation. If we do not solve the problem now, I believe the hatred toward foreign workers that's gradually surfacing will soon explode. Catching and deporting them is not the right answer. Don't you agree?
"Yes, that's not the stance we are taking either."
While it is possible that some of the undocumented workers entered the country by abusing policies such as visa-free agreements, many originally arrived in Korea on visas that are tied to their workplace.
Most of those who work in basic key industries get a Non-professional E-9 visa.
If extended,... they can stay for up to four years and ten months.
However, not only can they not change industry category,... they also can't change jobs without their employer's permission.
The only exceptions to this are if the company has gone out of business,... if they could not get paid, or if they have proof of violence or harassment.
"Most of the time, the work they do here in South Korea is tough. Due to lots of problems at their workplace there are some who ask to move somewhere else. When they cannot get permission, they leave and become undocumented..."
Another program that has seen problems is the seasonal worker program.
It is a program through which local governments invite temporary workers to work in farming and fishing villages during the busiest times of the year.
They can only stay in the country for up to five months.
Experts say this is UNREALISTIC.
"We designate working place very specific, but once they land in Korea and realize that they can earn more by moving different places, who can resist that temptation? If we say you can come here only for work six months, three months, it becomes very unrealistic because in many countries they have to pay high brokers' fee to get a visa to Korea."
This can lead to an ironic situation where local farms short on labor have little choice but to hire undocumented foreign workers, risking a fine.
Once a worker's status becomes illegal or undocumented, they do not have any way to get their legal status back,... and can end up having to endure life-threatening living conditions.
"As undocumented foreign worker, what is the most difficult thing while living in Korea?"
"When we get sick, we have no insurance and we avoid police, we avoid immigration, we are always hiding.
Even we are sick, we have to work."
Medical care is not the only thing they cannot easily access.
"They finished working at the company they have recently been at for five years. They did not get the severance pay. It is common for business owners to pocket the money."
"It is impossible for undocumented foreign workers to be part of the basic social security system. They cannot get health insurance, having to pay too much money at clinics,... neither can they have minimum living expenses guaranteed if they lose their job."
The Justice Ministry is looking at ways to tackle the issue.
It aims to first set up a new control tower for border, migration and immigration policies.
It also plans to establish region-specific visa categories,... and introduce fast-track programs for science and technology talents, giving them a pathway to an F-2 visa.
The lawmaker who brought up the issue says he agrees with ministry's plan to establish a control tower that can coordinate with various ministries and agencies for a more holistic approach to the issue.
...
#SouthKorea #undocumented #foreign_worker
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2022-08-12, 14:00 (KST)

Пікірлер: 81

@davehue9517 10 ай бұрын

I know someone who traveled from Thailand to South Korea and worked illegally several years.... it's a terrible situation

@morisoba2550 Жыл бұрын

This is a problem of illegal immigration, but behind it is a larger problem of a shortage of workers to do simple physical labour. South Korea also has a declining birthrate and an ageing population, and if current foreign immigration controls continue, the number of illegal immigrants is likely to increase further.

@MbisonBalrog Жыл бұрын

If that so then there is less need for labor. Less demand for goods services. Unless a handful of super rich want super cheap labor.

@gw7120 2 жыл бұрын

We saw the undocumented worker in Squid Games

@devilslayerthesaintofkille1317 Жыл бұрын

Basically they people who will do the difficult, dangerous, and dirty jobs no one else wants to do.

@deepestsleeep Ай бұрын

Exactly. Drug smuggling and prostitution are very demanding careers.

@mujahidyoutube9779 2 жыл бұрын

My opinion says take high taxes from undocumented workers on a monthly basis and give them visas to stay they will happily pay tax for getting a visa to stay in korea by this the government can earn a lot of money

@zfranke3dome 2 жыл бұрын

The whole point of coming to Korea is to make money. If you have to pay high taxes, that defeats the purpose. They would rather come to Korea illegally so they can make money off the books and pay zero taxes...

@Sanyu-Tumusiime 2 жыл бұрын

@@zfranke3dome then they should forever remain illegal

@XingShang-b6s 6 ай бұрын

Korea is the country with the highest minimum wage in Asia excluding the Middle East. It has been 10 years since Korea surpassed Japan in terms of minimum wage. And in Japan, the salary for foreigners is fixed, but in Korea, foreigners receive the same salary as Koreans.

@Nobodiez01 2 жыл бұрын

In my opinion,instead of deporting undocumented worker. Give them a visa. A visa can renew. They can pay taxes to the governement. And many business will not colapse. As i noticed here in korea. The new generation korean chave less interest to work in factory,farming and fishing-work related.

@Sanyu-Tumusiime 2 жыл бұрын

no bruh send em back. there is already a visa. it's called E9 visa. they should apply for one and use what's already there.

@firewatermoonsun Жыл бұрын

Correct. Also if they get visa, many more illegal migrants will come expecting visa. The problem will not be solved.

@jiminswriter4209 Жыл бұрын

That only rewards this behavior, which the government wants to avoid.

@k-brick9996 Жыл бұрын

As Korean, Nah.

@babanuki7197 Жыл бұрын

Nah. Why give them visas? It's easier to exploit their dumbasses if they don't have any legal documents. It's also unfair for people who follows the rules. E-7 professional here trying to move to F.

@g2000g Жыл бұрын

통일이 낮지. 유럽 다문화주의 살펴보면 끔직해요

@user-dl8ox4lt3k Жыл бұрын

맞춤법도 모르는 너같은 무식한 한국인 100명보단 태국 베트남에서 들어오는 엘리트 이민자 한명이 더 낫다 ㅋㅋㅋ

@codeintherough Ай бұрын

Just like the us

@saltandsteelforever9242 Жыл бұрын

Undocumented? Hell No! They should be called 'illegal'!!

@andrialexander6624 2 жыл бұрын

INDIA POPULATION WILL BE MAJORITY IN KOREA ???

@draganserdar8140 Жыл бұрын

Indian is everywhere even in Lagos,have dairy shop,salting batter chicken,

@draganserdar8140 9 ай бұрын

@dellyspice super power,country,hehehehe

@이상호-l5c1z 2 ай бұрын

Ugh, no. Most of the foreigners in Korea are ethnic Korean Chinese.

@chemophile14 Жыл бұрын

Majority of undocumented, illegal immigrants are mostly from visa free countries such as Thailand, Russia, Vietnam etc. Anyway, these workers are doing very hard and heavy jobs which we can't be expected from legal visa holders or local Korean. You may be surprised these workers work 12 to 14 hours in a day non-stop just for same salary as legal workers work 8 hours. These poor undocumented people are blackmailed, threatened and harassed by boss continously. If they are working so hard then what's wrong with the korean government issuing residency permit and visa for them. They are physically more powerful and energetic than the local people

@chemophile14 Жыл бұрын

@dellyspice I know that. Korean government needs to do a statistical calculation of these illegal immigrants. 90% are from visa free countries 😄 🤣 😂 😆 if want to stop criminals, then stop free visa issuance

@drak1265 11 ай бұрын

Koreans blame illegal employers. However, when hiring Koreans, there are legal working hours. With so many illegal workers, employers are easily tempted. Of course, employers will also be subject to crackdowns and heavy fines. Korea does not force workers to work or pay low wages like in the past. Even if there are, it is only a small portion. Some illegal immigrants work 12 hours a day and earn more than Koreans. Unskilled foreign workers receive $2,800 per month with free room and board. Illegal immigrants do not just do simple labor. Problems such as illegal drug distribution, illegal prostitution, and illegal gambling are serious. Among them, Thais are the largest. Additionally, they are preparing to enter the country by disguising themselves more thoroughly than actual tourists. It is quite difficult to distinguish between real tourists and illegal immigrants. So, I understand that immigration screening has become much more difficult than before.

@ampa4989 9 ай бұрын

Because they'll start to vote someday and change the culture. That's probably the main concern.

@chemophile14 9 ай бұрын

@ampa4989 korean don't accept foreigners that easily lol

@draganserdar8140 9 ай бұрын

Why they are illegal, why they working 12,14 hours,how you know that they better than local Labour force,nobody ask them in Korea,they choose to come,stay illegal, work illegal, so.

@abroaddiary4124 Жыл бұрын

reporter is so beautyfull

@shahidyusafzai2061 Жыл бұрын

Love korea

@HKim0072 Жыл бұрын

Blame the people hiring the workers, not people trying to make a living.

@drak1265 11 ай бұрын

Koreans blame illegal employers. However, when hiring Koreans, there are legal working hours. With so many illegal workers, employers are easily tempted. Of course, employers will also be subject to crackdowns and heavy fines. Illegal immigrants do not just do simple labor. Problems such as illegal drug distribution, illegal prostitution, and illegal gambling are serious. Among them, the largest number are Thai. Also, in order to enter the country, they disguise themselves and prepare more thoroughly than those who are genuine tourists. It is quite difficult to distinguish between genuine tourists and those staying illegally. So, I understand that entry screening has become much more difficult now than before.

@deepestsleeep Ай бұрын

Maybe if they only worked in factories and farms? Sure. But most of illegal immigrants are involved in drug and prostitution businesses, contributing largely to Korea's increasing number of drug usage. 600% increase in drug related crimes in Korea in the recent years. It is an unprecedented number of drug usage since the birth of Korea. Thanks to Thai illegal migrants especially who work so hard to distribute drug to Korean population, and thanks to Thais who work in sex industries. Thanks to Vietnamese mariage fraud and Chinese illegal workers who live on pension and Korean health care as well.

@YesRight-oq2lz Жыл бұрын

Poor southeast people are coming and coming to rich south korea

@draganserdar8140 Жыл бұрын

Rich Korea,in what,? Slaves market,.

@XingShang-b6s 6 ай бұрын

@@draganserdar8140 Korea is the country with the highest minimum wage in Asia excluding the Middle East. It has been 10 years since Korea surpassed Japan in terms of minimum wage. And in Japan, the salary for foreigners is fixed, but in Korea, foreigners receive the same salary as Koreans.

@draganserdar8140 6 ай бұрын

@@XingShang-b6s I live/work in Seoul,for a year,long time ago,and I know the salary in Korea,and I know how much,is salary, in Korea,.

@draganserdar8140 6 ай бұрын

In that time slaves labour force working 10/12 hours a day,working as a slaves factory workers,slept in factory,passport taken away,wery,wery rare Korean speaking English,etc etc don't tell me about Korean factory bad behaviour to slaves work force there,.