Members of civic groups hold a press conference outside the Constitutional Court in central Seoul on March 18, 2020 to revise an “employment permit system” for foreign migrant workers. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — A group of civic organizations whose purpose is to protect the rights of migrant workers said Monday they are carrying out a signature-collecting campaign until Aug. 15 to guarantee migrant workers’ rights to change workplaces.
The civic groups claim that a significant number of migrant workers in South Korea do not even have the basic right to change or select a workplace, adding that no matter how hard and difficult their work is, they are not allowed to change workplaces without permission from their employer.
The groups insist that they have incessantly called for the government to address this issue but no action has been taken.
The employment permit system that marked its 17th anniversary this year was designed to allow migrant workers to change workplaces up to three times during their three-year employment period.
This system, however, has a provision stipulating that migrant workers can change workplaces only under several conditions, including the cancellation of an employment contract by an employer.
The civic groups, accordingly, have pointed out that migrant workers are virtually forced into compulsory work.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
