Government Conducts Labor Condition Survey for Foreign Seafarers

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 2nd that it will conduct a joint labor-management-government survey on the working conditions of foreign seafarers for four weeks until the 28th.

The survey will be conducted by inspection teams jointly formed by seafarers' union organizations, shipowner organizations, and maritime police stations under 11 regional maritime affairs and fisheries offices. The inspection targets are vessels, workplaces, and accommodations where foreign seafarers work. In-depth interviews and private meetings will also be conducted using questionnaires written in the seafarers' native languages and interpreters.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to impose disadvantages such as restrictions on the allocation of foreign seafarers and strict penalties on companies found to have excessive dispatch costs or illegal fee collection based on the survey results.

Additionally, issues such as failure to prepare standard labor contracts and wage arrears will be immediately addressed through guidance.

Last year, the Ministry conducted in-depth interviews and surveys with 775 foreign seafarers and confirmed some human rights violations, including excessive dispatch costs, verbal abuse, and poor living conditions.

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