Counseling call center for migrant workers to open

By Lee Hyo-sik

The government will open a call center to counsel migrant workers here today, as part of efforts to help them adapt to life in Korea and better resolve disputes between workers and their Korean employers.

A group of counselors will offer advice and answer questions in 10 different languages.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Thursday that the call center will be set up in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, where many migrant workers and their families reside.

Those who want to receive counseling can either visit the center or call 1577-0071.

Of the 25 call center counselors, 23 are migrant wives who can speak at least two different languages. Migrant workers from 10 countries can ask about job-related matters and other difficulties they face here without having to climb the language barrier.

The 10 languages are Korean, English, Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Sri Lankan, Mongolian, Uzbek and Cambodian.

The visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 365 days a year. From 6 p.m. through 9 a.m., only the center’s automated response system is available. The ministry plans to double the number of counselors next year and expand the number of available languages.

“The call center will greatly help both migrant workers and their Korean employers deal with a range of issues by simply dialing 1577-0071. Workers can talk to professional counselors in their mother tongue,” said Lee Chae-pil, minister of employment and labor.

Lee said the center is also equipped with counseling rooms for those who want to discuss problems face-to-face as many migrant workers and their family member reside in Ansan and its surrounding areas.

“We are positive that the newly-opened facility will contribute to alleviating conflicts between foreign workers and Korean employers, improving the rights of the workers and assisting employers in business operations,” the minister said.