Seoul to Step Up Crackdown on Illegal Workers
Kim Sung-mi
Kim Sung-mi. 2004. “Seoul to Step Up Crackdown on Illegal Workers.” The Korea Herald, July 7, 2004.
he government crackdown on illegal foreign workers will likely intensify before the foreign work-permit system takes effect next month, according to the Ministry of Labor yesterday.
But just 40 days from the launch of the new foreign employment system, the number of foreign workers overstaying their visas increased from 131,000 in January to 150,000 this month, deepening worries about a successful implementation.
Through stronger monitoring of workplaces allegedly employing illegal foreign workers, the government hopes to slash the number to less than 50,000 by the end of this year.
Beginning Aug. 17, 25,000 foreigners are expected to enter Korea by year-end after signing job contracts with local companies.
“Without a solution to the illegal migrant worker problem, the new system is likely to break down,” said Seol Dong-Hoon, a sociology professor at Chonbuk National University. “The government failed to execute the law effectively and efficiently,” he said.
The detention facility for illegal aliens here is capable of holding a mere 2,000 people and law enforcement agents in charge of the crackdown number only 200 nationwide, according to ministry figures.
Korea will accept workers from five countries — the Philippines, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Thailand — this year, out of the eight countries that applied to send workers here.
Indonesia is expected to sign a foreign work-permit memorandum of understanding with Korea this month, while China and Kazakhstan are likely to be excluded on the list this year.
Korea is a major destination for workers from developing countries. They are frequently hired to fill so-called 3D jobs — dirty, dangerous and difficult.
To employ foreigners, Korean companies must prove that they were unable to find suitable domestic workers after a month-long recruiting period. By Kim Sung-mi. smkim@heraldm.com.
