South Korea: Country sees increasing cases of migrant rights abuse amid growing reliance on migrants across several sectors
“S. Korea faces increasing complaints of abuse from migrant workers even as reliance on them grows”
… Mr Roy, now 39, is among the growing number of foreign workers in South Korea who are helping to plug the country’s labour shortfall caused largely by an ageing population and falling birth rates.
The foreign workers take on low-paid manual jobs in labour-intensive industries such as manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries that are shunned by locals.
But as the number of foreign workers rise … a growing number of cases of migrant worker abuse such as that faced by Mr Roy are also coming to light. ..
When Philippine national Mary Kris Omangay came to South Korea in May 2024 for three months of seasonal farm work, she was hoping to earn money to support her youngest sister through nursing school.
The understanding with her broker was that she just needed to transfer half of her monthly salary of 1.28 million won (S$1,228) to the broker as commission, over a period of three months, which Ms Omangay complied with.
But when the 35-year-old’s contract was extended for a further three months, the broker continued to demand the commission…
“He threatened to send me back to the Philippines if I do not cooperate,” said Ms Omangay at the briefing.