Migrant Workers are Also Workers!
Mobilize Protests Against the South Korean Government’s Manhunt and Repression of Migrant Workers!

Since March 9, seven migrant workers have been on a hunger strike in immigration detention centers in Hwasung and Yesoo and at Myeongdong Cathedral. The conditions of these deportation centers are even worse than South Korean prisons. These workers have basically put their lives "on the line" for migrant rights in South Korea.

On July 31st 2003, the South Korean government passed a new migrant worker management system, entitled, the Act on Employment of Foreign Labourers or otherwise known as the Employment Permit System (EPS). This law is to take into effect on August 2004. This new law along with the Industrial Trainee System is basically South Korean's version of a slave system.

To migrant workers, the EPS is a law that allows slavery. According to the new law, migrant workers can work in South Korea for only three years and for only one employer. Since migrant workers cannot change their work place, the employer basically has complete control over the wages and working conditions of migrant workers; thus these workers are bound to the employer like slaves.

In preparation for the implementation of the EPS, since November 16, 2003, the South Korean government has been consistent in their policy of seeking out and deporting migrant workers who have been in South Korea for more than four years. This policy has resulted in the tragic deaths of nine migrant workers who chose death instead of returning to their home country.

Chronology of the Sit-in Struggle at Myeongdong Cathedral

November 15, 2003
100 migrant workers along with the KCTU and other worker rights and human rights organizations begin an indefinite sit-in struggle at Myeongong Cathedral demanding a "Stop to forced deportation of migrant workers and legalization of all unregistered migrant workers."

November 2003 to January 2004
The South Korean government implements a series of three "crackdowns" on migrant workers, deporting 3,000 migrant workers. In addition during this period, 10,000 migrant workers voluntarily leave South Korea.
Repression begins against those engaged in the Myeongdong Sit-in Struggle.

January 17, 2004
The South Korean government announces its plans to induce voluntary departures of migrant workers. Although the government state that these workers can return to South Korea under the new EPS, government officials fail to provide any official documents of this promise. More importantly, migrant workers state that they do not want to return to South Korea under the new EPS.

February 10, 2004
The Myeondong Sit-in Struggle Collective (MSSC) hold a press conference to announce its rejection of the South Korean government’s plans in deporting migrant workers. It also launches a signature campaign.

February 15, 2004
One of the key leaders of the MSSC, Samar Thapa from Nepal is “kidnapped” in broad daylight by immigration officials. He is currently imprisoned at the Yeosu Deportation Center.

February 17, 2004
MSCC members, KCTU, and other allies demonstrate in front of the Immigration Office to protest the arrest of Thapa and the continuous crackdown against migrant workers. Organizers also announce the start of a hunger strike by migrant workers. Once again immigration officers suppress the demonstration and arrest ___ Gupta from Nepal.

Nine workers (one at the Yeosu Deportation Center, four at the Hwasung Deportation Center, and four at the Myeongdong Cathedral) start an indefinite hunger strike in protest of the forced deportation of migrant workers. The hunger strikers call for the release of all migrant workers held in deportation centers.

February 20, 2004
The Ministry of Justice announces the failure of the government’s inducement plan of migrant workers voluntarily leaving South Korea. Prior to this plan, an average of over 90 migrant workers voluntarily returned to their home country; however, since the start of the inducement plan only 40 migrant workers voluntarily left South Korea. Government officials also announce its plans to renew the crackdown and forced deportation of migrant workers, particularly those active in the Myeongdong Sit-in Struggle starting March

February 23, 2004
The hunger strike inside the Hwasung Deportation Center spreads and currently there are now 17 migrant workers participating in the hunger strike.

With the spread of the hunger strike, human rights abuses against migrant workers increases. Personal diaries and notes of the migrant workers are confiscated. Six of the hunger strikers are put in solitary confinement. In addition, the center officials refuse to disperse much-needed medicine to the migrant workers. As a result of the hunger strike, the health of the migrant workers have deteriorated. Some are vomiting and discharging blood, while others are suffering from body spasm and intense headaches. However, deportation center officials refuse to provide medical treatment, aside from dispensing cough medicine.

March 8, 2004
After 21 days into the hunger strike, migrant workers are given medical treatment. The South Korean government begins to forcefully deport migrant workers participating in the hunger strike. To date eleven migrant workers have been forcefully and unlawfully deported without any identification documents such as passports and other travel identifications. Also, some of those deported were in poor health as a result of the hunger strike.

Join the Struggle of Migrant Workers!
Protest Against South Korean Government’s Manhunt and Repression of Migrant Workers!

KCTU is calling for all trade unions and human rights groups to urgently write to the Korean government demanding the followings.

Legalize all migrant workers.
Stop forced deportation of migrant workers.
Release all detained migrant workers.
Abolish the Employment Permit System.
Ensure basic labor rights for migrant workers.
Allow freedom of movement between migrant workplaces for migrant workers.
Condemn the Roh Moo Hyun government’s repression against migrant workers.

You can send your letters of protest by fax to President Roh Moo-Hyun at the Blue House(fax : 82-2-770-0202) or email at  president@cwd.go.kr. Also sending to Minister of Justice Kang Keum-Shil at  m_moj@moj.go.kr,  immi_moj@moj.go.kr or Fax: +82-2-503-3532, +82-2-2650-6295. Please send a copy to the KCTU(fax : 82-2-2635-1134) or email to  inter@kctu.org.

With much appreciation for your solidarity

Yours sincerely,

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions


Migrant Workers’ Statement

We, the migrant workers in South Korea have been forced to work as low-wage workers for the past 15 years in conditions that are hardly fit for human beings. We suffer from industrial accidents, physical and sexual harassment, emotional and verbal abuse, and discrimination. Although our wages are low to begin with, employers often refuse to pay us regularly and in some cases we are paid much less than what was originally promised. We have endured all for this for 15 years. Now the South Korean government wants us to leave because we are no longer needed.

We have started our struggle because we want to live a life as a human being. We are not machines that are to be discarded when it is no longer needed. The South Korean government’s migrant worker policy will not decrease the number of unregistered migrant workers. Instead, it will do exactly the opposite. We believe that under the new EPS, migrant workers will be treated as slaves rather than workers.

According to the Ministry of Justice, as of March 2, 2004, there are 136,000 undocumented migrant workers in South Korea. It is impossible for the South Korean government to forcefully deport all these workers. The South Korean government must recognize that the only rational solution in addressing migrant workers is to immediately stop the forced deportation of migrant workers, allow freedom of movement between work places for migrant workers, recognize migrant workers as workers, and ensure the basic fundamental rights for migrant workers.

Even if we have to go into hiding, we will remain in South Korea to continue the struggle for our rights as workers. Join the struggle against the South Korean government’s inhumane, violent, and destructive policies against migrant workers. We ask for your support and solidarity by calling on the Roh Moo Hyun government to stop the manhunt and deportation of migrant workers.


Legalize all migrant workers.
Stop forced deportation of migrant workers.
Release all detained migrant workers.
Abolish the Employment Permit System.
Ensure basic labor rights for migrant workers.
Allow freedom of movement between migrant workplaces for migrant workers.
Condemn the Roh Moo Hyun government’s repression against migrant workers.