South Korea's declining population relies on foreign workers, but ``protection is insufficient'' - US media

"South Korea's dependence on foreign workers is increasing due to low birthrates and an aging population, but the rights and interests of workers from developing countries are not being protected," US media reported.
The New York Times (NYT) reported that ``Hundreds of thousands of workers from developing countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and Nepal are now working in small-scale factories and remote farms in South Korea.
"Foreign workers, who work on fishing boats and other vessels, have little power to choose or change employers, and endure unscrupulous employers, inhumane housing, discrimination, and abuse. attitude
” he pointed out. A worker from Bangladesh said in an interview with the NYT that he suffered a fractured skull after being thrown into a tree felling operation in an unsafe condition, but his employer refused to pay for the accident.
"I declared on my injury compensation document that I had suffered minor injuries," he said. He went on to criticize them, saying, ``They (employers) treat workers like disposable items.''
The NYT said, ``In South Korea, the dependence on foreign workers has increased significantly due to the population crisis and the avoidance of harsh labor, but the protection of workers
・No support measures have been taken." ``The South Korean government has publicly stated that it will increase the number of investigators and interpreters and strengthen punishment for employers who commit illegal acts, but this year, 160,500
"Even though the government plans to issue 00 temporary work visas, its policies have been scaled back, including the suspension of funding for migrant support centers."