Migrant Workers and Social Service Agents "Forced Labor Must Be Abolished"

Migrant worker organizations such as the Migrant Workers' Union and the Migrant Workers' Equality Solidarity called for improvements in labor conditions on the 30th, a day before Labor Day.

At the May Day rally for migrant workers held on the 30th at Yongsan Station Plaza in Seoul, participants are performing a chain-link performance. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On that day, the groups held the "2023 Migrant Workers' May Day" rally at Yongsan Station Plaza in Seoul and pointed out, "Although the government has stated it will expand migrant workers across all industries, there are no fundamental policies to improve exploitation and discrimination such as environmental issues, industrial accidents, poor wages, and labor conditions."

They demanded that the government comply with International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 29, which prohibits forced labor, and stop the exploitation, oppression, and discrimination against migrant workers. Udaya Rai, chairman of the Migrant Workers' Union, emphasized, "Migrant workers cannot rest on Labor Day, so we are holding this Labor Day rally today," and added, "Equal rights as the same people and the same workers must be guaranteed to the increasing number of migrant workers in Korean society."

The participants marched to Samgakji Station and delivered a protest letter to the Presidential Office.

On the same day, the Social Service Workers' Union, an unregistered union, held a press conference in front of the Seoul Regional Military Manpower Administration in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, declaring the "1st Social Service Workers' Day," and claimed that the social service system violates ILO Convention No. 29. They also announced ten demands including ▲abolition of forced labor ▲conversion of the dual employment system to a reporting system ▲enactment of a law prohibiting harassment during service ▲increase in lunch allowances and support for housing costs.

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