Korea shows appreciation of migrant workers

A visitor to a 2003 exposition held for migrant workers and their family members in Korea tries a food served by members of migrant communities who are donned under their country's traditional costumes. / Korea Times file

By Ko Dong-hwan

One of the young visitors to an exposition for migrants' communities in Korea receives a hand painting from one of the attending migrants

Migrant workers in South Korea received an appreciative boost over the weekend, with special events being held for them and plans announced to woo more laborers from overseas.

About 1,200 foreign workers from small-to-medium sized companies across the country joined a May 19 fete organized by the Korea Federation of SMEs (KBIZ) for the migrants.

The workers' rights watchdog held the event at Everland, one of the country's signature theme parks located in Yongin. The fete was held to encourage the workers and offer them a chance to meet others from different countries and understand diversity in the workplace.

Ambassadors and officials from 11 embassies, including East Timor, Mongolia, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, attended and met workers from their countries.

KBIZ Human Resources Support Division chief Lee Jae-won called migrant workers “civic diplomats who contributed to South Korea forming mutual diplomatic growth with other nations through social/economical trade” and said their roles were effective beyond employer-employee relationships

“We will keep improving the quality of this event to the satisfaction of the migrant workers as well as improve their working environments,” he said. This year's fete was the fifth such event since 2014.

The event, under the theme “Let's Go Together,” offered a variety of festivities, including awards, music performances, a musical gala show and a recreational tour around the theme park that boasts thrill rides, a zoo and natural gardens.

A Nepalese worker from a company in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, sobbed when he was shown a video of family members back home during the event.

A similar get-together was held on Sunday in Uijeongbu, where the city government hosted a street festival for migrant workers, members of families of multicultural backgrounds and other foreign residents from northern Gyeonggi Province.

Outdoor activities included traditional plays from Sri Lanka, Vietnam and other Asian countries, rickshaw riding, tasting tees and trying on traditional clothes from different countries.

Migrant workers at an auto part manufacturing factory in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, engage in their job in October 2004. / Korea Times file

The Korean government is taking a more positive stance toward migrant workers and plans to invite more this year.

Hwacheon-gun County in Gangwon Province will hire 85 foreign workers for local farms this year. The county office held an orientation day for the first group of 25 workers on May 18. The new-comers signed labor contracts, workers' insurance forms and learned about working in Korea.

The county's latest move comes after migrant workers there expressed satisfaction with their lives here. The county office now plans to make positions available for the extended families of these migrant workers.

More migrant workers are also being sought in Boeun County in North Chungcheong Province. The local government has selected 50 farm laborers from the Philippines, Vietnam and other countries with visas valid for 90 days.

The county office workers will be paid at least the minimum wage of 7,530 won ($7) an hour and work no longer than eight hours a day.