Report on Migrant Worker Conditions and Sustainable Development in the Republic of Korea

1.0 Introduction: Demographic Transition and Sustainable Development Challenges

As of November 2024, the Republic of Korea’s foreign resident population surpassed 2.04 million, constituting 3.9% of the total population. This demographic shift, driven by an expanded foreign worker permit system and initiatives to attract international students, marks Korea’s transition into a multicultural society. However, recent events have highlighted significant challenges in aligning this transition with the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning decent work, reduced inequalities, and justice.

2.0 The Role of Migrant Labor in the National Economy

Foreign laborers have become integral to the Korean economy, sustaining key sectors and contributing directly to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. Their presence addresses critical labor shortages in industries often avoided by the domestic workforce.

• Construction
• Agriculture and Fisheries
• Manufacturing

In several municipalities, the foreign population now exceeds 10%, underscoring a structural dependence on migrant labor for continued economic productivity. This reliance necessitates a framework that ensures their contributions are recognized within a system of protected rights and decent working conditions.

3.0 Case Study: Violation of Human Rights and Labor Standards

A recent incident at a brick factory in Naju, South Jeolla, exposed severe deficiencies in the protection of migrant workers, representing a direct contravention of multiple SDG targets.

3.1 Incident Overview

A Sri Lankan worker, employed under an E-9 visa, was subjected to extreme abuse, including being bound and lifted by a forklift. This act, condemned by President Lee Jae Myung as an “unacceptable violation of human rights,” has prompted an official investigation by the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

3.2 Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The incident is a flagrant violation of Target 8.8, which calls for the protection of labor rights and the promotion of safe and secure working environments for all workers, especially migrant workers.
2. SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): The abuse highlights a failure to ensure equal access to justice and protection under the rule of law for vulnerable populations.
3. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): The worker’s experience is a stark example of discrimination and the vulnerability faced by migrants, undermining Target 10.3, which aims to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome.

4.0 Systemic Barriers and Policy Deficiencies

The vulnerability of foreign workers is exacerbated by structural flaws within the current employment permit system. These policies create conditions that are inconsistent with SDG principles for responsible migration and labor.

4.1 The E-9 Employment Visa System

The primary issue lies in regulations governing changes of employment:

• Workers who leave a workplace have only 90 days to secure government approval for a new employer.
• Failure to meet this deadline results in the risk of deportation.

This system severely limits a worker’s ability to leave abusive environments, creating a power imbalance that facilitates exploitation and contravenes SDG 10, Target 10.7, which advocates for orderly, safe, and responsible migration and mobility.

5.0 Recommendations for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future

To align with its status as a global economic power and uphold its commitment to the SDGs, Korea must implement comprehensive reforms.

5.1 Policy and Institutional Reform

1. Revise the Employment Permit System: Amend regulations to provide migrant workers with greater flexibility and protection when changing employers, thereby aligning with SDG 8.8.
2. Strengthen Enforcement and Access to Justice: Enhance institutional capacity to investigate and prosecute workplace abuse, ensuring all workers have equal access to legal recourse as mandated by SDG 16.

5.2 Fostering Social Cohesion

Achieving a truly inclusive society requires addressing public perceptions and fostering a culture of respect. This is essential for realizing SDG 10.2, which aims to promote the social and economic inclusion of all, irrespective of origin. As Korea’s reliance on foreign labor grows, building a society rooted in dignity and mutual respect is no longer an option but a prerequisite for sustainable national development.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.8: Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers.
  
  The article directly addresses this target by highlighting the abuse of a Sri Lankan migrant worker, who was “bound to a pile of bricks and lifted by a forklift.” It describes this as an “unacceptable violation of human rights” and points out that foreign workers are “highly vulnerable to workplace abuse.” The call for authorities to “protect the rights of migrant laborers” reinforces the relevance of this target.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of origin or other status.
  
  The article discusses Korea’s transition into a “multicultural society” and the need to build a “mature, inclusive society rooted in dignity rather than discrimination.” This directly relates to the goal of social and economic inclusion for the growing foreign population.
• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices.
  
  The article points to a specific policy—the rule requiring foreign workers to find a new employer within 90 days or face deportation—as a structural barrier that creates inequality and vulnerability. The call for authorities to “address these gaps” is a call to reform policies that lead to unequal outcomes and discrimination.
• Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies.
  
  The article discusses the E-9 employment visa system and the expansion of the foreign worker permit system. The problems highlighted, such as the difficulty in changing employers and the resulting vulnerability to abuse, indicate a need for better-managed migration policies to ensure the safety and rights of migrant workers.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
  
  The incident described in the article, where a worker was bound and lifted by a forklift while being mocked, is a clear act of workplace violence and public humiliation. The President’s condemnation and the official investigation underscore the need to reduce such forms of violence.
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
  
  The launch of an investigation by the Ministry of Employment and Labor into the abuse case is an example of an institutional response to ensure justice. The article implies that foreign workers face barriers to speaking out, suggesting that equal access to justice is not fully realized. The call to “address these gaps” supports the promotion of the rule of law to protect vulnerable groups.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Indicator 8.8.1: Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status.
  
  The article provides a specific example of a non-fatal incident of workplace abuse and humiliation against a migrant worker. The mention of prior “verbal abuse” and the specific physical act described in the video serve as qualitative data points for this indicator, highlighting unsafe working conditions for migrant workers.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.
  
  The article explicitly states that the Sri Lankan worker “had faced verbal abuse before and described the incident as humiliating.” This is a direct report of harassment and discrimination based on his status as a foreign worker.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• Indicator 16.3.3: Proportion of the population who have experienced a dispute in the past two years and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism, by type of mechanism.
  
  The article implies a low rate of access to justice for migrant workers. It notes that they “face structural barriers to speaking out” and that the Sri Lankan worker had experienced prior verbal abuse, which likely went unreported. The fact that an official investigation was only launched after a “shocking video emerged” suggests that formal dispute resolution mechanisms are not easily accessible for these workers.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: koreajoongangdaily.joins.com