Transcript ICSW

Issues and Challenges for Cultural
Diversity in North East Asia
(Social Welfare of the Migrant Worker)
Jong-Sam Park (DSW, DDS, THM)
International Council on Social Welfare(ICSW),
(President of North East Asia Region)
World Vision Korea, (President & CEO)
Globalization: What does this mean?
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A perception of globally integrated system of physical communication (telephone,
internet, airline network, etc.)
Shared entertainment (film and TV; popular and classic music, sport)
Economic exchange and capital flows
Accelerating spread of ideas and of competing spiritual values
Globalization: The Borderless World(Kennchi Ohmae, 1990)
This view captures the sense of radical progress and modernity, and of life beyond the
constraints of the traditional nation-state.
Globalization:The Economic Perspective(David Henderson, 1999)
The idea of globalization as a model of fully internationally integrated market as those meeting
two conditions:

Free movement of goods, services, labor and capital; thus a single market in inputs and
outputs;
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Full national treatment for foreign investors (and national working overseas) so that,
economically speaking, there are not foreigners.
Globalization: A Mixture of Legal and Organizational categories
Globalization essentially refers to mixture of international, multinational, offshore and global
activities and involves general progression from the domestic to the global.(Richard O’Brien,
End of Geography, 1992)
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Globalization and Labor Movement
There is far less globalization in respect of labor movement.
Despite fear in the West about millions of actual or potential immigrants, and creation of
new ethic minorities in Western Europe, it cannot seriously be claimed that contemporary
globalization has much do with labor movements.
At most 2 per cent of the world’s population live outside their country of origin. (Castler
and Miller, 1993)
And the total global flow of migrants (estimated at 25-30 million in the 1980, many of
them temporary refugees) was 0.5 per cent of the World’s population.
Globalization and Migrant Workers
The only concerted attempt to create ‘National treatment’ for migrant workers has been
within the EU single market.
But realization of free movement has been very slow despite cross-border rights to welfare
benefits, freedom from controls, some mutual recognition of qualifications and substantial
wage differentials.
International Migrants
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Facts and Figures on International Migration
No country of the world remains unaffected by international migration flows.
They are all either countries of origin, transit or destination for migrants, or all three
simultaneously.
Like other flows, whether financial, commercial, or flows of information or ideas, the rising tide of
people crossing frontiers is among the most reliable indicators of the intensity of globalization.
International Migrants
At the start of the 21st century, one out of every 35 persons worldwide is an international
migrant.
The total number of international migrants is estimated at some 175 million persons.
(2.9% of the world population)
Some 48% of all international migrants are women.
Over the last 35 years, the number of international migrants has more than doubled.
Migrants as percentage of total population by countries, 2000
Source : UN Population Division :
International Migration 2004
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Migrants stocks by World Region
Migrants stocks by Country
This list includes counties from all world regions: Germany (7.3 million), Ukraine (6.9 million),
France (6.3 million), India (6.3 million), Canada (5.8 million), Saudi Arabia (5.3 million),
Australia (4.7 million), Pakistan (4.2 million), United Kingdom (4.0 million), Kazakhstan (3.0
million), Cote d’Ivoire (2.3 million), Iran (2.3 million), Israel (2.3 million).
The United States (35 million) and the Russian Federation (13.3 million) top the list of the
15 countries with the largest international migrant stocks in 2000.
Immigration and Emigration Countries
While all of the 10 major emigration countries between 1970 and 1995 were to be
found in the developing world, not all of the 10 major immigration countries were
developed countries.
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Immigration and Emigration Countries
Over this period, the leading net immigration countries were the United States (16.7
million immigrants), the Russian Federation (4.1 million), Saudi Arabia (3.4 million)
and India (3.3 million).
Mexico (6.0 million emigrants), Bangladesh (4.1 million), and Afghanistan (4.1 million)
were the main emigration countries.
Foreign Labor Force
Among OECD countries, the highest numbers of foreign workers in 1999 were found in the
United States (16.68 million), Germany (3.57 million), Australia (2.37 million), France (1.53
million), and the United Kingdom (1.1 million).
The proportion of foreign workers in the labor force is highest in Luxembourg (57.3%),
Australia (24.6%), Switzerland (18.1%), the United States (11.7%), Austria (10.02%), Germany
(8.75%), and France (5.8%).
Migrant Remittances
For developing countries, migrant remittances continue to be a major source of national
income.
Worldwide, India (USD 11.5 billion), Mexico (USD 6.5 billion) and Egypt (USD 3.7 billion)
received the largest amounts of money from their diaspora.
However, due to its often informal character, the total volume of remittances is difficult to
establish.
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Highly Skilled Workers
The United States (1999: 370,000 persons), Japan (2000: 129,000) and Canada (2000:
86,200) experienced the largest annual inflows of highly skilled workers among the world’s
high-income countries.
The United Kingdom (2000: 39,000), Australia (1999-2000: 30,000), and Germany (2000
2001: 11,800) followed.
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Migrant Remittances
Over the last 20 years, annual official Development Assistance and Foreign Direct Investment.
For example, as a proportion of total financial inflows, remittances amounted to 66% in
Morocco, 51% in Egypt and Tunisia, 35% in Cape Verde, 30% in Nigeria, and 27% in Benin and
Burkina Faso.
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Irregular Migration
Irregular migration continues to be a complex phenomenon on which accurate and reliable
data are not readily available.
Some 700,000 to 2 million women and children are estimated to be trafficked across
international borders each year.
Approximately 500,000 persons enter the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand
illegally every year.
Estimates of persons entering countries of the European Union by irregular means vary from
120,000 to 500,000 annually.
People smuggling is a very lucrative business generating billions of USD in revenues every year.
The fees paid to migrant smugglers increase proportionally to the distance covered between
country of origin and destination.
Globalization and Global Governance (Issues)
5.
What does Globalization means?
Is it inevitable?
And, if so, is it desirable?
How does “the system”-the present network of formal and informal rules and
institutions - actually work?
What are the major gaps and deficiencies?
6.
What would be a practical agenda for international economic policy reform?
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Global Variable Geometry
The system of global governance that is emerging as a response to globalization is a
complex, often ad hoc, set of rules regimes and institutions which go beyond traditional
ideas of limited co-operation between nation states but so far fall short of a unified global
system underpinned by global law enforcement.
It is an untidy world with overlapping jurisdictions and competition between different kinds
of rules and institutions.
Author : Vincent Cable, 1999
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Regionalism
Author : Vincent Cable, 1999
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Intergovernmental Clubs (OECD, the G7, UN, WTO, World Bank, etc.)
Regional Clubs (APEC, EU, NAFTA, TAP, ASEAN, etc.)
Functional Clubs (International Telelcome and Postal Union, etc.)
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National Politics in a Global Economy
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Economics may be increasingly global. Politics is still national.
The legitimacy of politicians resides essentially in their domestic electorates. (not in
IMF, UN, WTO, EU)
There is a growing tension between deepening economic integration and the virtual
absence of meaningful political integration in globalized world.
National Politics and Globalization : Some Major Changes
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Effective global governance to cope with market failures and cross-border cooperation,
Measure to ensure that the international public sector – institutions and regulators
– are democratically accountable;
A clear sense of subsidiary such that national (sub-national) politics enjoy
maximum decentralization of decision making within global or regional rules.
International Rules and National Sovereignty
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The traditional view of international relations can be caricatured as one of Solid nationstates interacting through trade or military alliances but without Significant loss of
sovereignty (Bull, 1997)
Globalization has, however, set in train a series of changes which shake to its
Foundations the idea of the national state. The clear boundaries between ‘domestic’
and ‘foreign’ policies have been eroded.
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International Rules and National Sovereignty
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Large number of issues which were once seen as purely domestic are now influenced by events
abroad: Tax levels and structures; Regulation of financial institutions; Social security system;
Product and technical standards; Workers conditions; Ownership of utilities; Corporate governance
and company law; Environmental protection;
Competition policy; Government budget deficit; Education standard; Human rights.
4.
A more contentious area where there may be limits to national autonomy and
Regulatory competition is in relation to ‘fair competition’.
Social Safety Net and the Migrant Worker in Korea
- Social Safety Net(SSN) is a social welfare system that protect people from ages, illness,
unemployment, accidents and poverty.
- It includes public social welfare support and four major social insurances.(National pension,
Medical insurance, Unemployment insurance, Workers’ accidents compensation insurance)
- Social Safety Net of the migrant workers is a social welfare system, facilities and services
that protect well-being of the migrant workers.
- The migrant workers as members of Korean society, their well-being should be protected
through SSN. As workers and residents of Korean society, their basic welfare rights must be
guaranteed as basic human right.
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Social Safety Net and the Migrant Worker in Korea
- In Korea, the migrant workers are not covered by SSN.
- Though accident compensation insurance is covered and medical insurance is partially
covered for the migrant workers, they are totally excluded from the benefits for national
pension, unemployment compensation program, public working, loan working, job training as
well as other public aid programs.
- By the end of 1980s, the migrant workers in Korea were suffering from unbearable
burdens(delayed wage payment, industrial accidents, physical abuse at workplace, sexual
abuse, etc.) and their basic human rights were grossly violated.
- Many NGOs and religious group as well as voluntary citizen’s groups were organized for
advocating the migrants’ human rights, workers’ rights as well as welfare rights.
- Social Welfare Program of the migrant workers finally drew the attention of government as
well as the civic society.
- By the end of 2003, the number of organizations supporting the migrant workers were
amount to 159.
Religious Organization-137
Citizen’s Human Right Movement Organization-8
Labor Movement Organization-3
Medical Service Organization-8
Legal Service Organization-3
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Social Service Delivery System
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Government Organization (GO)
Religious Organization
Labor Organization
Non- Government Organization (NGO)
Types of Job for the Migrant Workers
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Factory Worker
Construction Worker
Fisher or Marine Product Industry Worker
Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock Worker
Restaurant Kitchen, Dish Washing, Waiter
Nursing, Care-worker
Housekeeper, Maid
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Waiter/Waitress at the Bar
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Others
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Some Difficulties of the Migrant Workers(Workplace)
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Long Working Hours
Poor Working Condition
Occupational Disease
Injury at Workplace
Overdue Wages
Low Wages
Fast Work Speed
Conflict with Korean Workers
Conflict with Korean Supervisor
Mockery or Insults in Workplace
Body Search in Workplace
Physical Assault
Sexual Harassment
Rape or Sexual Violation
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Social Life Problems of the Migrant Workers
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Food
Clothing
Lodging
Financial Problems
Marital Problems
Health Issues
Climate or Weather
Language and Communication
Cultural Difference
Exploitation by Brokers
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The Main Reason for the Migrant Workers to visit the Center
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To consult some problems
To meet friends or acquaintances
To get job information
To get medical services
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To participate in religious activities
To get educations
Others
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Activities of the Center for Migrant Workers
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Events(Picnic, Camp, Athletic Activities. Etc.)
Medical Services
Consulting Problems on the Labor Problems and Immigration Difficulties
Korean Language Education
Computer Education
Industrial Safety Education
Sex Education
Shelter Service
Supporting Migrant Workers’ Community
Inducing Labor Union’s Support for Migrant Workers
Meeting for the International Marriage Family
Day Care Service for Migrant Worker’s Children.
Reintegration Program for Returning Home Country
Establishment of Sisterhood Relationship between Migrant Workers and Koreans
Publishing Newsletter/Newspaper
Solidarity with other Centers for Migrant Workers in Korea
Solidarity with other Centers for Migrant Workers in Foreign Countries
Advocacy for Reforming the Foreign Labor Policy of Korean Government
Missionary Work
Co-op for Migrant Workers
Research Projects on Foreign Workers
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Consulting Activities of the Center for Migrant Workers
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Overdue Wages
Medical Services
Industrial Accidents
Fine Policy for Illegal Aliens
Shelter
Legal Advice
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Violence or Outrage on the Migrant Workers
Rape or Sexual Abuse
Referral Service
Death Cases
Refund of Airfares
Retirement Allowance
Korean NGO Advocacy Movement
for Welfare Right of Migrant Workers
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- Beginning 1991, Korea began to import migrant labor from other countries.
- Korea had been one of the manpower exporting countries in the 1960s and 1970s
during its industrial development stage.
- By the end of 80s, the so-called 3D(Dirty, Difficult, Dangerous) manufacturing
companies were faced with the manpower shortage.
- Thus, the migrant workers have been imported officially under “Industrial Trainee
System”.
- Many migrant workers from Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa and Russia came to
Korea to capture “Korean Dream”.
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Korean NGO Advocacy Movement
for Welfare Right of Migrant Workers
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Disclosure of inhumane treatment of the migrant workers at the workplace, and passive
approach to the problems on the part of Government, many human right activists and
religious leaders took initiatives in supporting the helpless migrant workers, and
organizing themselves to become active agents of relief, development and advocacy for
the human rights (welfare rights and basic workers’ rights) of the migrant workers.
3.
Strategies that these activist groups employed are in accordance with “ a core agenda
for labor migration policy” (ILO activities with governments and social partners)
comprises seven basic components:
1) Applying international standards to protect the basic rights of all migrants
2) Monitoring migration and the conditions of migrant workers
3) Consulting social partners and other stakeholders
4) Developing coherent national policies and measures on labor migration, based on ILO principles
5) Enhancing administrative capacities for managing migration
6) Preventing discrimination and facilitating the social and economic integration of immigrants
7) Engaging in regional and international dialogue and cooperation.
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Korean NGO Advocacy Movement
for Welfare Right of Migrant Workers
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Social welfare service activities by voluntary organizations supporting the migrant
workers have been carefully researched, evaluated by Korean government with the
help of the stakeholders.
Two big challenges with managing social welfare for the migrant workers are
1) to increase possibilities for regular legal migration
2) to try to find ways to reduce illegal migration.
- The results of the study will become some basic information upon which Korean
government and civic society will design the social welfare programs for the migrant
workers, especially those who will be invited to work in Korea.
- It is estimated that there are 406,000 foreign residents in Korea, majority of them are
the migrant workers, of whom 60% are undocumented migrant workers living under
fear of being arrested and deported.
- This would concern people who try to enter without permission, overstay their visas,
use the services of smugglers or seek to stay through illegal means.
- Irregular migrant workers are most vulnerable for in humane treatment and
exploitations.
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Task of Central and Local Government for Assisting
the Migrant Workers
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Re-enforcement of Basic Labor Law and Supervision of the employers of the Migrant
Workers
Prevention and Solution of Irregular Practice of Employment Agency
Solution of Labor Problems(Industrial Injuries, Overdue Payment, etc.)
Creation of Special Agency(Department) for the Migrant Worker
Reform the Existing Law affecting the Migrant Worker
Securing Basic Labor Right for the Migrant Worker
Upgrading Selection Standard of the Migrant Worker
Management of Demand/Supply Workforce
Effective Management of the Migrant Worker
Tasks of Local Government for the Migrant Work
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Change Negative Attitude of Community People toward the Migrant Worker and
Acceptance of the Migrant Worker as Members of Local Community
Social Welfare Policy Formation and Providing Social Service for the Migrant Worker
Reform Medical Insurance System as well as Social Welfare System
Increase Supportive Program for the Welfare of the Migrant Worker
Support the Migrant Workers’ Events in the Community
Support the Organization of the Migrant Worker
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Task of the Ministry of Law for the Migrant Workers
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Simplify Legal System for Residing in Korea, Processes of Entry/Departure of
Immigration Office
Humane Treatment of the Migrant Worker and Prevention of Problems caused by
International Employment Agency
Prevention and Control of Illegal Activities
Offering Convenience for the Migrant Worker to Visit Homeland Regularly
Providing Basic Information on Korean Life and Basic Education on Basic Korean Law
Remission of past Illegal-stay in Korea
Legislation of Unbiased Law affecting Migrant Worker
Prevention of Illegal Stay
Severe Punishment of Irregular Practice of Employers
Korean NGO Advocacy Movement
for Welfare Right of Migrant Workers
`
- Many forms of social actions were taken systematically by the activist groups
including appealing the migrants’ human right violation cases to higher courts.
- Responses from general public and politicians were positive.
- Several meaningful laws protecting the migrant workers’ rights were legislated, and
amended.
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Korean NGO Advocacy Movement
for Welfare Right of Migrant Workers
- Thanks to the efforts of the migrant advocacy group, quite recently “employment
permit system” is put into practice.
- Under the new system, Korea plans to admit 25,000 migrant workers this for
manufacturing, farming, and construction jobs from six countries; the Philippines,
Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.
- Another 38,000 foreigners are expected come in under industrial trainee scheme.
“Mr. Brunson McKinley, director general of the International Organization for
Migration” made the following comments;
“Korea is ahead of other countries in ‘importing’ labor and in trying to be best
organized to receive migrant in a legal and sensible way.”
“There is a lot to learn from (here). I’d say the employment permit system
that Korea is beginning to put into place is a very interesting and important
effort.”
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Thank you very much!