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The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Workplace bullying cases of migrant workers in S. Korea triple since 2020
A Sri Lankan man tied to a forklift being lifted off the ground at a brick factory in Naju, South Jeolla province, South Korea. - Facebook SEOUL: Reports of workplace harassment cases involving migrant workers in South Korea have more than tripled between 2020 and 2024, government data shows. But advocates warn these official figures may be only the tip of the iceberg. According to Labour Ministry data released by Representative Kim Wi-sang of the People Power Party, reported cases of workplace bullying and harassment targeting foreign national workers rose from 65 in 2020 to 225 in 2024, marking a 3.5-fold increase. By May 2025, 112 new complaints have already been filed, suggesting 2025 will likely see the highest number yet. The bullying of migrant workers drew renewed attention in July when a video emerged of a Sri Lankan worker at a brick factory in Naju being tied to a stack of bricks with plastic wrap and lifted by a forklift. The authorities determined the act constituted workplace harassment and fined the employer three million won (S$2,700). President Lee Jae-myung condemned the incident as 'unacceptable violence' and pledged strong action. South Korean police are currently conducting a nationwide, 100-day special crackdown on workplace abuse and violence against foreign workers. Migrant workers and their advocates argue that the true extent of workplace harassment is largely missing from official statistics, as such complaints are often handled internally by employers. Many foreign nationals are employed by small businesses with fewer than five employees, where reporting abuse by co-workers or supervisors is often difficult. Even when victims file complaints, many cases end without penalties due to gaps in the legal framework. South Korea's Workplace Anti-Bullying Act, introduced in 2019, defines harassment as abuse of authority that causes physical or psychological harm or worsens the work environment. Employers must investigate complaints, protect victims and take corrective measures. If they carry out these duties, cases can be officially recorded as 'no violation', rendering the case as resolved. The law also does not cover workplaces with fewer than five employees or workers in special employment arrangements. Migrants are heavily concentrated in these sectors, leaving many outside the law's reach. The Labour Ministry recorded more than 820 harassment complaints involving migrant workers between 2020 and May 2025. Of these, only a few dozen led to corrective orders, just over 10 to fines, and slightly more to criminal referrals. Roughly 400 cases were withdrawn or closed with 'no violation' findings, while several hundred were placed in 'other' categories, typically covering workplaces too small to fall under the law or jobs outside standard protections. Lawmakers have warned that the system underreports the true extent of harassment, which is often resolved internally or never reported at all. Jung Young-seop from the civil society coalition Migrant Workers Solidarity for Equality told the Korea Herald: 'About 70 per cent of migrant workers in South Korea are employed at workplaces with fewer than 30 people, many of them under five. When they ask to transfer after being abused, some employers retaliate by refusing to assign them work. That means no wages and often worse treatment.' Amid a renewed push to better protect migrant workers, the South Korean government is now pledging reforms. It plans to revise the E-9 employment visa system to give migrant workers more freedom to change jobs and extend their stays in three-year terms. Many working visas require employees to remain at their approved job unless authorised to relocate or change employers. Until now, workers were allowed to transfer only under limited conditions, such as unpaid wages or physical abuse. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Workplace bullying cases of migrant workers in South Korea tripled since 2020, many more likely uncounted
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A Sri Lankan man tied to a forklift being lifted off the ground at a brick factory in Naju, South Jeolla Province, South Korea. SEOUL - Reports of workplace harassment cases involving migrant workers in South Korea have more than tripled between 2020 and 2024, government data shows. But advocates warn these official figures may be only the tip of the iceberg. According to Labour Ministry data released by Representative Kim Wi-sang of the People Power Party, reported cases of workplace bullying and harassment targeting foreign national workers rose from 65 in 2020 to 225 in 2024, marking a 3.5-fold increase. By May of this year, 112 new complaints have already been filed, suggesting 2025 will likely see the highest number yet. The bullying of migrant workers drew renewed attention last month: a video emerged of a Sri Lankan worker at a brick factory in Naju being tied to a stack of bricks with plastic wrap and lifted by a forklift . Authorities determined the act constituted workplace harassment and fined the employer 3 million won (S$2,700). President Lee Jae Myung condemned the incident as 'unacceptable violence' and pledged strong action. South Korean police are currently conducting a nationwide, 100-day special crackdown on workplace abuse and violence against foreign national workers. Migrant workers and their advocates argue that the true extent of workplace harassment is largely missing from official statistics, as such complaints are often handled internally by employers. Many foreign national workers are employed by small businesses with fewer than five employees, where reporting abuse by coworkers or supervisors is often difficult. Even when victims file complaints, many cases end without penalties due to gaps in the legal framework. South Korea's Workplace Anti-Bullying Act, introduced in 2019, defines harassment as abuse of authority that causes physical or psychological harm or worsens the work environment. Employers must investigate complaints, protect victims and take corrective measures. If they carry out these duties, cases can be officially recorded as 'no violation,' rendering the case as resolved. The law also does not cover workplaces with fewer than five employees or workers in special employment arrangements. Migrants are heavily concentrated in these sectors, leaving many outside the law's reach. The Labor Ministry recorded over 820 harassment complaints involving migrant workers between 2020 and May 2025. Of these, only a few dozen led to corrective orders, just over ten to fines, and slightly more to criminal referrals. Roughly 400 cases were withdrawn or closed with 'no violation' findings, while several hundred were placed in 'other' categories, typically covering workplaces too small to fall under the law or jobs outside standard protections. Lawmakers have warned that the system underreports the true extent of harassment, which is often resolved internally or never reported at all. Mr Jung Young-seop from the civil society coalition Migrant Workers Solidarity for Equality told the Korea Herald: 'About 70 per cent of migrant workers in South Korea are employed at workplaces with fewer than 30 people, many of them under five. When they ask to transfer after being abused, some employers retaliate by refusing to assign them work. That means no wages and often worse treatment.' Amid a renewed push to better protect migrant workers, the Korean government is now pledging reforms. It plans to revise the E-9 employment visa system to give migrant workers more freedom to change jobs and extend their stays in three-year terms. Many working visas require employees to remain at their approved job unless authorised to relocate or change employers. Until now, workers were only allowed to transfer under limited conditions, such as unpaid wages or physical abuse. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Workplace bullying cases of migrant workers tripled since 2020, many more likely uncounted
Reports of workplace harassment cases involving migrant workers in South Korea have more than tripled between 2020 and 2024, government data shows. But advocates warn these official figures may be only the tip of the iceberg. According to Labor Ministry data released by Rep. Kim Wi-sang of the People Power Party, reported cases of workplace bullying and harassment targeting foreign national workers rose from 65 in 2020 to 225 in 2024, marking a 3.5-fold increase. By May of this year, 112 new complaints have already been filed, suggesting 2025 will likely see the highest number yet. The bullying of migrant workers drew renewed attention last month: a video emerged of a Sri Lankan worker at a brick factory in Naju being tied to a stack of bricks with plastic wrap and lifted by a forklift. Authorities determined the act constituted workplace harassment and fined the employer 3 million won ($2,200). President Lee Jae Myung condemned the incident as 'unacceptable violence' and pledged strong action. South Korean police are currently conducting a nationwide, 100-day special crackdown on workplace abuse and violence against foreign national workers. Migrant workers and their advocates argue that the true extent of workplace harassment is largely missing from official statistics, as such complaints are often handled internally by employers. Many foreign national workers are employed by small businesses with fewer than five employees, where reporting abuse by coworkers or supervisors is often difficult. Even when victims file complaints, many cases end without penalties due to gaps in the legal framework. South Korea's Workplace Anti-Bullying Act, introduced in 2019, defines harassment as abuse of authority that causes physical or psychological harm or worsens the work environment. Employers must investigate complaints, protect victims and take corrective measures. If they carry out these duties, cases can be officially recorded as 'no violation,' rendering the case as resolved. The law also does not cover workplaces with fewer than five employees or workers in special employment arrangements. Migrants are heavily concentrated in these sectors, leaving many outside the law's reach. The Labor Ministry recorded over 820 harassment complaints involving migrant workers between 2020 and May 2025. Of these, only a few dozen led to corrective orders, just over ten to fines, and slightly more to criminal referrals. Roughly 400 cases were withdrawn or closed with "no violation" findings, while several hundred were placed in 'other' categories, typically covering workplaces too small to fall under the law or jobs outside standard protections. Lawmakers have warned that the system underreports the true extent of harassment, which is often resolved internally or never reported at all. Jung Young-seop from the civil society coalition Migrant Workers Solidarity for Equality told the Korea Herald, 'About 70 percent of migrant workers in South Korea are employed at workplaces with fewer than 30 people, many of them under five. When they ask to transfer after being abused, some employers retaliate by refusing to assign them work. That means no wages and often worse treatment.' Amid a renewed push to better protect migrant workers, the Korean government is now pledging reforms. It plans to revise the E-9 employment visa system to give migrant workers more freedom to change jobs and extend their stays in three-year terms. Many working visas require employees to remain at their approved job unless authorized to relocate or change employers. Until now, workers were only allowed to transfer under limited conditions, such as unpaid wages or physical abuse.
Korea Herald
08-04-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Promoting employment of older adults, protecting consumers in electronic commerce
The Korea Herald republishes a weekly legislative report by local law firm DR & AJU LLC to provide the latest information on bills approved, proposed, pending and set to be promulgated. — Ed. Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on Prohibition of Age Discrimination in Employment and Elderly Employment Promotion Proposed by Rep. Kim Wi-sang (People Power Party) ● This amendment requires employers to provide continued employment in line with the national pension eligibility age, while leaving the choice of specific measures — such as extending the retirement age or rehiring retired employees — up to each company. Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Distribution Industry Development Act Proposed by Rep. Yoon Joon-byeong (Democratic Party of Korea) ● This amendment extends by five years the sunset period for provisions on defining and registering quasi-superstores, as well as designating traditional commerce preservation areas. Pending Bill: Partial Amendment to the Act on the Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce Proposed by the Government ● This amendment requires mail-order distributors and brokers to appoint domestic agents in Korea, who must handle consumer complaints or disputes and cooperate with Fair Trade Commission investigations into suspected legal violations. Promulgated Bill: Special Act on the Promotion of Offshore Wind Power Distribution and Industry Development Competent Authorities: Ministry of Economy and Finance; Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; and Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries ● This bill shifts offshore wind power development to a government-led model by mandating the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to operate a site information network, designate preliminary and development districts based on it, and select project operators for each district through tenders. Administrative Announcement: Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Restriction on Special Cases Concerning Taxation
