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Introduction
Regardless of the hyper-modernity of Seoul as a first world status economy, social exclusion remains a challenge to the government and the society. Relocating to South Korea can be interesting, but it can come at a cost. Many migrant workers are forced back in their closet by inadequate remuneration and social discrimination. South Korea is one of the countries that are trying to overcome social exclusion and inequality in the workplace. This is due to the high level of discrimination of the marginalized groups who are not recognized and are often mistreated by the society. In this paper, we shall define social exclusion as the lack of belonging, recognition, and acceptance in the community. Social exclusion affects marginalized groups in the society, for instance, the migrant in South Korean in their workplace.
The causes of social exclusion in South Korea have been accelerated by the lack of active government policies and services to deter migrants exploitation. Moreover, it has also been caused by the changing economic and social factors in the marketplace (Melanie, 2014, para.5). Usually, migrant groups are excluded because they are deemed vulnerable and hopeless in South Korea. Many migrants who travel to South Korea have an initial optimism of a better life. However, this is not the case; most of the migrants in South Korea have encountered racial discrimination, exploitation, harassment, and social exclusion. According to a survey conducted by Zaami (2015), many migrants who stay in South Korea have never come to feel at home because they are discriminated in the workplace. Consequently, majority have found their way back to their countries. However, those who do not return are exploited mainly in the workplace by their employers. In this paper, we shall analyze the social exclusion in South Korea especially toward the migrant in the economic, social, and political aspects.
Case study
Jeong was a 24-year old migrant from China who committed suicide due to discrimination and exploitation in the workplace. She threw herself under the train because her employer had withheld her salary for 13 years while in South Korea (The guardian, 2009, para. 1). Moreover, he did not allow her to move to another organization where she could earn her monthly pay. In her letter, she argued that she decided to commit suicide because it was the only way out. Jeong had worked for 13 years with the hope that she could earn enough money to go back to her country China. However, due to the social exclusion and exploitation, she committed suicide because it was the only solution to her problems. She had tried to contact the local authorities in South Korea to help her, but they failed because they perceived her as a migrant.
Economic and financial inequality in South Korea
Social exclusion of the migrant in South Korean is a challenge that continues to affect the society. Although many people do not realize it, it has negatively contributed to inequality in the workplace and wealth distribution in the country. The migrants in are the most affected people in a society that is highly heterogeneous. As noted by Amnesty International, Jeong is not the only migrant who has committed suicide due to exploitation. Chun Tae a Chinese migrant in South Korea ended his life by self-immolation because he believed that it was the only way to end his troubles in life (Anuradha & Eser, 2002, p. 384).
He had tried his best to contact the local and national government to improve working condition through demonstration without much success. Although his death led to a rapid change in labour laws, more need to be done to prevent exploitation of the excluded migrants in the country. Since they do not have representatives in power that can fight for their right, they are discriminated in the workplace and the economic sphere of wealth distribution. Migrant exploitation, in South Korea, has increased in the last twenty years. The migrant minority population in South Korea is extremely heterogeneous and is mostly made up of workers from China, UK, North Korea, and Russia. South Korea is estimated to host 400, 000 migrants who come from different social, geographical and linguistic background. These migrants are united by the social exclusion facing them in South Korea as foreign laborers.
In recent years, international community has complained to the Korea government due to migrant exploitation and harassment in the workplace. For instance, in 2009, human right watchdog noted that there is a significant increase in migrant abuse in the workplace. Specifically, the human right watch group noted that many migrants had complained about workplace exploitation and discrimination such as unfair dismissal, reduced wages, and unsafe workplace. Although the migrants have complained to the local authorities, little has been done to improve working conditions. Further, the human right watchdog noted that migrants suffer from physical, psychological, and sexual abuse.
The general perception in South Korea is that migrants are job stealers and criminals. Although foreigners and international students are highly respected, migrant workers are socially excluded and suffer prejudice. This notion is supported by a survey conducted by Migrant Workers TV where most of the South Korean interviewed showed little or no interest in the migrant working conditions. Most of them argued that migrants smelled and that they are job stealers who should go back to their countries. This is a misconception because most of the migrants workers are well educated and entered the country legally. Many of the migrant workers entered Korea through brokers who promised them high salaries. Contrary to their expectations, they are paid low wages and in most cases, their working condition is 3D (difficult, dangerous, and dirty). Migrant workers face social exclusion because they are in a foreign country where no one cares.
According to a report by Amnesty International, a Ghanaian worker lost one arm as he was trying to escape verbal abuse from his employer. Even before he was release from the hospital, the employer discharged him without paying his medical bills. Today, he cannot be able to work and is facing a difficult life in a foreign nation. This case shows how social exclusion in South Korea plays a significant role in social exploitation in the workplace. Moreover, migrant workers are mistreated, and they are paid low wages. The working condition of the migrant is pathetic because they are perceived as desperate. For instance, three Thailand female migrant workers were admitted to hospital after being exposed to toxic chemicals. The employer did not pay their hospital bills, but discharged them after 3 days. According to Chung, Choi and Litman (2014) the Korean worked in safe working conditions in separate rooms that were never exposed to chemicals (p. 490). This shows that social excluded migrants do not enjoy human dignity in South Korea because they belong to foreign nations.
Social exclusion in the workplace is supported by the Labour Standard Act, which protect workers against exploitation (Art. 49). Article 47 prescribes the minimum wage but has certain loopholes that allow employers to exploit migrants. For instance, the law permits employers to increase working hours. It does not specify the minimum wage that should be paid to migrant workers on probation. The argument is workers who complain are likely to lose their jobs in a country where the culture, government, and language are unfamiliar. Moreover, the law only permits workers to search for a job for two months, which sometimes compelled them to alternative jobs illegally. The illegal jobs increase their chances of being prosecuted and exploited. If a migrant worker is arrested, they face severe human right exploitation.
However, although the social exclusion of migrant in South Korea has been gaining recognition from the government, there remain excluded from the national grid and assurance of safe working conditions. Anuradha and Eser noted that the discrimination of migrant workers gained local and international condemnation after the demonstration of Nepalese industrial trainee that led to the creation of Federal of Trade Union. This organization was mandated to ensure that companies observed human rights of migrant workers. Local private firms have also supported migrant rights such as Borderless world Corporation that provide interpretation of bank transaction to migrants. Moreover, Nonghyup Bank assists migrants with legal fees and advice on adoption of Korean names. These companies work together to help migrants gain access to good working condition and fair remuneration in the workplace.
The South Korean migrant trade union has urged the governed to heed UN Convention on the rights of all migrant workers and their families that was formed in 2003. Although the United Nations resolution can be useful in ensuring good working conditions for the marginalized migrant workers, the success of such an endeavor relies on the willingness of the society to respect migrant workers. Although being a migrant worker in Korea is legal, the working conditions are vigorously discriminating. Nevertheless, being a migrant worker in Korea is stigmatizing in a culture where discrimination is a daily occurrence. Usually, migrant workers must keep their families and social life a secret or risk being disowned and fired. Being a migrant worker in South Korea means, you have to accept a life of secrecy and isolation to be successful. This is exacerbated by the harsh reality of living in a homogenous society that has a deep fear of foreign influence.
According to a survey conducted by Gallop poll of Korea argued that only 37 percent of those interviewed supported social inclusion of the migrant workers. However, the generation gap was pronounced in the sense that those between the ages of 18-37 favored social inclusion of migrant workers. However, only 13 percent of those between the ages of 45-65 favored social inclusion of migrant workers (Abigail & Audrey, 2007, p. 153). The social exclusion in Korea has increased because most of the employers are the older generation who do not support social inclusion of foreigner. However, this trend is expected to diminish as the young generation take over in the next 20 years.
Addressing social exclusion
Today, there are many ways the government and the society can be able to overcome social exclusion. The federal government is planning to implement measures that will ensure equality of the marginalized group. However, they must make sure that any changes will have substantial benefit for the minority. The government can be able to address inequality using its budgetary measures mainly to reduce the level of unemployment that is facing migrant workers in South Korea. The president can be able to implement a national poverty reduction strategy that will ensure the needs of the most vulnerable people are met (Ightman & Gingrich, 2012). Moreover, the government should commit to investing in projects that will benefit the excluded population such as economic opportunities and education. For instance, the government should order all county governments to meet the threshold of equity for job opportunities, especially to the excluded population.
The government should eliminate barriers to employment of the excluded population that has been identified by various groups. For instance, the national government should compel the private sector in the economy to implement safe working conditions for migrant workers. This will ensure that the minority have access to job opportunities and in good working conditions. Moreover, the federal government should develop rules that will ensure fair remuneration of all migrant workers (Deborah, 2014, para. 4 ). For instance, the government should eliminate loopholes in the labour laws to ensure there is a minimum wage that will ensure parity in the workplace. Moreover, the government should prosecute employers who exploit workers, which will serve to deter migrant exploitation (Tim, 2014, para. 6).
Social exclusion of migrant workers can be eliminated by educating the society to respect migrant. The major challenge facing migrant workers is a result of a societal refusal to accept foreigners to work in their country. The South Korean government should dismantle barriers to trade and other professions. Kiran (2002) noted that South Korea has been attracting massive business opportunities from the outside world (p. 34). However, these business people have been discouraged by discrimination of foreigners. Specifically, the migrants from China are opting to return to their country because they consider South Korean hostile against them. Since South Koreans are allowed to invest and work other countries without discrimination, they should reciprocate by eliminating barriers to proper working conditions.
The South Korean government has established Foreign Workers Employment related law, which is a sign that they recognize migrant exploitation in the workplace. These rules were set up to promote good working condition and fair remuneration of workers. It also supports fair treatment of migrant workers in the workplace. However, the discrimination of migrant workers shows the Korean authorities has failed to ensure foreign migrant are respected. Moreover, it displays the failure of the government to implement international standards of non-discrimination in their treatment of foreign migrant workers. The government can ensure they are treated fairly by enforcing these laws. Moreover, the government should prosecute employers to breach this rules, which will act as a shield against discrimination in the workplace. South Korea should also ratify international human right and labour treaties that advocate for all migrant workers rights to be respected regardless of their legal status (Jennifer, 2014, para. 3).
For instance, South Korea should accede to the ICCPR, which is a formal treaty that protects the right of migrant workers. Moreover, the government should ensure that all migrant workers enjoy the same human right as stipulated in ILO. The ILO argues that everyone is entitled to fundamental human right without discrimination of any kind. Moreover, it clearly stipulates that everyone is has a right to enjoy their human right without discrimination.
Conclusion
Social exclusion in South Korea has been accelerated by lack of strong government policies in the workplace. It has also been caused by the changing economic and social changes in the market. Employers discriminate migrant women who have now been compelled to seek jobs in semi-skilled occupation in manufacturing companies that increase chances of them being exploited. They also have little access to social and health services compared to their white counterparts. When the minority groups are excluded because they are deemed vulnerable, they are more likely to assert themselves inappropriately such as involving themselves in criminal acts. Migrants in South Korea are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed even though they have higher education compared to their Korean counterparts. This is because migrants are discriminated and exploited in the workplace. The government can be able to overcome these challenges by adhering to international standards that require all employers to respect human right in the workplace.
Transcript/round table
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, today we shall discuss social exclusion in South Korea. We shall first begin by defining social exclusion. Social exclusion is the lack of belonging, recognition, and acceptance in the society. Social exclusion has affected the migrant workers in South Korea. We shall study social exclusion of migrant workers in South Korea. Specifically, we shall analyze Jeong a 24-year old migrant from China who committed suicide due to discrimination and exploitation in the workplace. She threw herself under the train because her employer had withheld her salary for 13 years while in South Korea.
We have learned that migrant workers are discriminated because employers. According to Kim (2012) South Korea is one of the most ethically harmonized nations with little acceptance of foreign influence (p.683 ). Migrant workers and other foreigner represent 3.6 percent of the population. The culture in South Korea is very insular and does not accept foreign migrant workers regardless of their immigration status. Consequently, migrant workers face both racial discrimination and migrant -phobia that defines their life. Irrespective of how successful you become, South Korean do not accept foreign influence and will always view migrant workers as intruders. Migrant exploitation, in South Korea, has increased in the last twenty years. The migrant minority population in South Korea is extremely heterogeneous and is mostly made up of the migrant from China, UK, North Korea, and Russia. However, over the years, the right of migrant workers gained local and international recognition after the struggle of Nepalese industrial trainees who brought together all migrant workers and human right groups to fight for good working conditions and fair treatment in the workplace.
The government can be able to eliminate discrimination in the workplace by implementing international human right principles such as ILO. These principles are important to ensure that migrant workers are respected in the workplace. However, although the ILO principle stipulates that all workers should enjoy the same rights, South Korean government has not implemented these fundamental principles (Lim, 2010, p. 62). In most cases, migrants are paid low wages and work for longer hours. Furthermore, most of the migrant always complain they are denied the right to become members of a trade union and are physically abused by their employers.
The existing discrimination in South Korea shows that the government has failed to implement international treaties that denounce discrimination of migrant workers in the workplace. These principles are set out in many of the international human right treaties that have been ratified by the South Korean government. The principles obligate South Korea to guarantee workers including migrant all individual rights without any discrimination. Therefore, the government should develop a national plan of action to promote international principles ensures individual rights of migrants is protected without discrimination. Finally, the government should also establish stringent laws that will ensure a minimum wage for all migrant workers in their workplace. Moreover, the government should educate citizens the importance of respecting and treating migrant workers with dignity.
References
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Kim, N. (2012). The Migrant Workers Movement in the Democratic Consolidation of Korea. Journal Of Contemporary Asia, 42(4), 676-696.
Kiran, M. (2002). A Special Kind of Exclusion: Race, Gender and Self-Employment. Journal of Canadian Ethnic Studies, 27(1), 26-50.
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Melanie, K. (2014). Black Canadian self-employed women in the twenty-first century: a critical approach. Web.
The guardian, (2009). Social inclusion: Fighting Social Exclusion and Injustice in Korea. Web.
Tim, A. (2014). Bank accused of racial profiling after migrant customer arrested: Toronto man files $225,000 suit, says he is looking for answers. Web.
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