SEOUL, Sept 7: South Korea is planning to launch a massive crackdown against overstaying migrant workers in October and November. The move is expected to affect over 3,000 Nepali workers.
However, labor rights groups have expressed concerns over the possible violations of human rights and suppression on foreign workers in the name of flushing out illegal workers from the country.
Issuing a statement on Thursday, Korea´s Ministry of Law has declared September as the period of voluntary exit for migrant workers. The Korean government has also urged the overstaying foreign workers to voluntarily return to their home country ahead of the government´s planned crackdown.
As a part of implementing the decision, Korea´s law ministry, together with the labor ministry and Federation of Korea Small and Middle Entrepreneurs´ Association, has initiated a massive campaign in areas dominated by migrant workers. Korea has also decided to impose a penalty of $1,700 and suspend the license of companies employing illegal migrants for three years.
The law ministry has also said that it would waive penalty of overstaying workers and allow them to enter Korea a year after their departures.
According to conservative estimate, almost half of around 7,000 Nepalis living in Korea have overstayed their visas. Many Nepalis were deported from Korea during last year´s crackdown.
Responding to the government´s announcement about crackdown on migrant workers, different trade unions, including Korea Confederation of Trade Unions and Migrant Labor Union, have asked the government to respect human rights while conducting crackdown on migrant workers.
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