will s.Korea Ratify Migrant Convention?

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Will S. Korea Ratify Migrant Convention?
[Opinion] Foreign workers face discrimination
Koh Ki-bok (princeko)	Email Article  Print Article
	Published 2006-12-18 12:43 (KST)

Is the South Korean Government not yet ready to ratify the convention on migrant workers?

The international convention on protection of migrant workers and their families was declared at the United Nations in New York on Dec.18, 1990 and came into force on July 1, 2003. The convention is considered a fundamental element for the protection of the human rights of migrants, since it contains a broad vision that includes the migrant's family and the situation of women and children, and explicitly recognizes the rights of undocumented migrants.

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A total of 34 countries have ratified the convention, with Nicaragua the most recent country to do so, on Oct. 26, 2005. While according to its National Action Plan for the promotion and protection of human rights (NAP), the South Korea government has a plan to ratify the convention, it has not yet done so. The government seems to be still internally discussing matters on the convention ratification.

Many countries, including South Korea, have discriminatory laws and practices against migrant workers who are seeking work in a country of which they are not nationals. For more than 13 years, South Korea has operated an Industrial Technical Trainee system, which is very discriminatory against migrant manpower.

Migrants must have knowledge of their rights and the ability to insist that those rights are respected. Unfortunately many migrants, and in particular those who are undocumented, do not have that ability, and this is where abuses occur.

More than 185 to 192 million people now live outside their country of origin, up from 80 million three decades ago. According to the International Organization of Migrants' "2005 international migrant workers report," the number is expected to reach over 230 million by 2050.

Most documented and undocumented migrants leave their hometown for economic reasons, while receiving countries accept migrants because of shortage of labor. Most Korean "3D" (dirty, difficult, and dangerous) companies depend on migrant labor. But in most receiving countries, including Korea, undocumented migrants have no legal rights or are being systematically exploited.

Most undocumented migrants due to their status may easily find themselves in situations in which they are vulnerable to unpaid wages, violence, and discrimination at work.

Under this kind of situation, many undocumented migrant workers in Korea are hoping for legalization. But Kang Myeong-deok, director of the immigration office, is opposed to recognizing undocumented migrant workers.

The government has to ratify the U.N. migrant convention as soon as possible. If the Korean government does not ratify the international convention on protection of migrant workers and their families, can Korean migrant workers abroad expect protection of their human rights?

Beyond ratifying the convention, the government has to look for solutions to the recent surge of xenophobia and racism against migrant workers, as well as promoting their social integration in Korea.

Dec. 18 is International Migrant's Day.

©2006 OhmyNews

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