Jeonnam Province Rolls Up Sleeves for 'Foreign Workers' Human Rights Protection'

Special Measures Announced... Implementation of Visiting Labor Rights Education and More

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has taken proactive measures to protect the human rights of foreign workers who are in a blind spot due to language barriers and cultural differences.

On the 23rd, Jeonnam Province announced the ‘Jeonnam Foreign Workers Human Rights Protection Special Measures.’

The special measures include ▲ joint inspections of workplaces employing foreigners ▲ a human rights survey of foreign workers ▲ labor rights education for employers ▲ distribution of the Jeonnam Foreigners’ Living Guidebook ▲ and strengthened public awareness campaigns targeting residents.

First, for one month starting next month, the province, along with city and county offices, the police agency, the coast guard, the Mokpo branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Jeonnam Labor Rights Center, will conduct joint inspections by touring major workplaces employing foreigners within the province to supervise and guide employers on compliance with the Labor Standards Act and human rights violations.

Additionally, from July to December, a human rights survey will be conducted by visiting foreign workers in vulnerable rural fishing villages to investigate their working conditions and any human rights violations. Systematic on-site labor rights education will also be provided to employers.

Alongside this, to help foreign workers adapt stably to local life, the province plans to produce and distribute in September the ‘Jeonnam Foreigners’ Living Guidebook,’ which includes basic information about Jeonnam (transportation, medical care, tourism, food, festivals, etc.), foreigner support organizations and groups, commonly used daily conversations, the Labor Standards Act, and the Employment Permit System.

Furthermore, the province will intensify awareness-raising campaigns.

To eliminate social prejudice and discrimination against foreign workers and establish the perception of them as partners in the local community, the province plans to conduct website promotions, newspaper columns, and forums targeting residents.

Yoon Yeonhwa, Jeonnam Province’s Population and Youth Policy Officer, said, “The proportion of foreign workers is increasing every year, and their contribution to local production sites is growing, so we have prepared human rights protection measures accordingly. Since human rights issues require prevention rather than post-facto remedies, we will continue joint inspections with related agencies and awareness campaigns targeting residents.”

Meanwhile, in May, Jeonnam Province conducted the nation’s first quarantine survey targeting foreigner-dense and vulnerable areas for one month to guide foreigners, who were in quarantine blind spots, into the quarantine network and to block the early spread of COVID-19 in the region. The efforts included quarantine inspections of 617 locations, environmental disinfection of 173 locations, 902 foreigner screening tests, and the distribution of 40,000 masks.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.