Kim Dong-yeon Holds Emergency Meeting on Support Policies for Migrant Workers

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Kap-dong] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon invited five experts on migrant worker-related issues to the governor's office on the morning of the 1st and held an emergency meeting to prepare 'support policies for migrant workers.'

On the 26th, after paying condolences at the 'Joint Memorial Site for Hwaseong Factory Fire Victims' established in the lobby on the first floor of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government building, Gov. Kim met with the press and cited industrial safety and measures for migrant workers as tasks to be undertaken following the Hwaseong factory fire incident. Today's meeting was arranged to hear expert opinions prior to establishing migrant worker measures.

Prior to the meeting, Gov. Kim said, "Gyeonggi Province will establish an Immigration and Society Bureau for the first time in Korea. We see migrant workers and the children of multicultural families as a competitive advantage," and explained the background for holding the meeting, saying, "There is the Hwaseong factory fire accident and the establishment of the Immigration and Society Bureau, so we invited you because we want to hear ideas we might not have thought of."

Oh Gyeong-seok, director of the Gyeonggi Province Foreigner Human Rights Support Center, who made the first remarks, said, "While this loss is tragic and should not be repeated, in fact it is a structural problem," and proposed, "We need immigration policies that accept migrants, including migrant workers, as new citizens of Gyeonggi Province and incorporate them as new members. Cooperation between the Foreigner Human Rights Support Center and Gyeonggi Province is important."

Kim Yong-guk, chairman of the Gyeonggi Province Foreigner Welfare Center Director Association, followed, saying, "Because of large wage gaps, they prefer to work in cities rather than rural areas and in manufacturing if possible. This is why migrant workers flock to Gyeonggi Province," and pointed out, "Ultimately, it is not a matter of safety education but whether business owners have safety awareness. Therefore, Gyeonggi Province must consider what incentives to provide to business owners with safety consciousness."

Kim Tae-geun, representative of the Migrant Solidarity Shalom House, said, "Small businesses cannot even think about safety measures. Workers who come to Korea are sent directly to job sites without any safety education," and noted, "We must establish measures through long-term cooperation between the private and public sectors to address issues like the pervasive lack of safety awareness in the field."

Jo Young-gwan, director of the Migrant Center Friends, said, "This accident occurred because three categories—labor, immigration, and safety—did not function properly on the ground," and stated, "Workers do not even have information about their workplaces, so it is understandable that proper foreign language safety information was not delivered."

Ju Yun-jeong, assistant professor of sociology at Busan National University, said, "We need to see responsible leaders taking responsibility, and cooperation with civil society is also important," and suggested, "Soon there will likely be xenophobic sentiments toward foreign workers. We need to think about that as well."

After listening to these opinions, Gov. Kim said, "We have rapidly developed measures for bereaved families and victims thus far, but we must continue to prepare emergency support measures for them," and stated, "I will promptly announce measures to rapidly support bereaved families."

He continued, "During the last briefing, I mentioned safety, housing, and education issues for migrant workers, and I would like to see policy proposals go further," and said, "Migrant workers probably cannot go to hospitals even when ill, so please review measures to provide free medical treatment by volunteers or social services on holidays and such."

Today's meeting lasted approximately one hour. Gov. Kim plans to establish and announce emergency measures for migrant workers based on the content of today's meeting.