July 30 - On July 30, the NHRCK held a forum with NGOs, academia and government officials to review and evaluate the Employment Permit System. This forum, entitled “5 Years of Employment Permit System – Are the Basic Rights of Migrant Workers Protected?” discussed the issues of rights violations of migrant workers in relation to the Employment Permit System.
During the forum, participants pointed out that the rights violation cases of migrant workers had gradually increased partly due to strict government’s regulations. Under the current Employment Permit System, migrant workers are not allowed to change their workplaces. At the forum, Mr. Jung Jung-Hoon, a lawyer, argued that this regulation was little more than a low income policy although it had been run under the pretense of protecting local employment. However, some discussants including Professor Seol Dong-Hoon contended that local workers’ rights should also be considered simultaneously with migrant workers’ rights.
In 2003, the NHRCK recommended that the Employment Permit System be introduced in order for migrant workers to be entitled to legal work status, be paid equivalent to the locals, and enjoy basic human rights. In 2008, the NHRCK submitted a proposal to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Labor, calling for the rectification of the policies related to the issues of workplace.
