SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA- Social and financial security, employment contract violation, health problems, sexual harassment, unpaid salary, underpaid overtime, 3D work (dirty, difficult and dangerous) and discrimination are the common issues and labor problems that confront the migrant workers, modern living heroes.
As the world celebrates Labor Day, urgent solutions short or long-term are sought for current issues and concerns.
In effect, according to Dilip Ratha, senior economist and co-author of the book “Migration and Remittances Factbook of 2008,” migrant remittances provide a lifeline for the poor in many developing countries. This foreign exchange becomes a stabilizing force for the economy in turbulent times.
In conjunction, the World Bank reported last March its list of the top five highest remittances for 2007 - India with $27 billion, China with $25.7 billion, Mexico with $25 billion, the Philippines with $17 billion and France with $12.5 billion. Three of them - India, Mexico and the Philippines - belong to the developing countries.
But despite the remittances these migrants send home, both skilled and non-skilled workers who undergo sacrifices like living away from their families, still experience prejudicial treatment and dangerous work conditions.
Currently, a total of 1.75 billion people are in migration - 600,000 of them are in South Korea. Many countries participating in its Employment Permit System (EPS) are benefiting from the skills and monetary aspects of this labor program which have given South Korea a reputation as an ideal workplace even for low-skilled workers.
But this government-to-government labor program has still brought perennial issues like unpaid and delayed salary of the workers, violation of labor contract by the employer, physical and verbal abuses and other labor-related problems despite existing labor laws providing protection.
The foreign community has observed and commented that these current problems indicate that despite the labor laws, the EPS is still in its trial and error stage. These observations are bolstered by records of the continual complaints filed by migrant workers in job centers against some abusive employers.
On the other hand, the South Korean Ministry of Labor (MOL) has been aware of such violations, evidenced by their information programs for employers and workers to help resolve the problems. .
In line with the world Labor celebration, Filipinos and other foreign workers are asking for intensive support from the government of South Korea for constant monitoring of the reported violation acts thru labor centers, government agencies and Non-government Organizations (NGOs).
We are also calling for the support of the Philippine Embassy to urgently implement programs that widely benefit OFWs in South Korea who are the most likely victims of reported abuses.
The human resource sector which includes the migrant workforce has been a constant partner of the government for years. Regardless of job type, visa status, age, gender, citizenship, capabilities and achievements, all workers have been an essential contributing factor to the economic stability and growth of both South Korea and the Philippines.
The monumental achievements and progress of South Korea and the stabilizing force of the Philippines in the world’s economic battlefield should be highly attributed to all the workers who have been fighting for generations against suppression, prejudice and poverty.
