CINA

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From today's NepalNews:

Maoists to enter into fierce debate over two documents

After the meeting between party chairman and prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and his former mentor and senior party ideologue of Maoists Mohan Baidya ‘Kiran’ failed to produce any understanding, Tuesday, the central committee meeting of the party resuming from Wednesday is expected to witness stormy debate between the two camps.

Both Prachanda and Kiran have registered separate political report at the meeting, which started on Monday.

While Prachanda’s document backs consolidating the federal democratic republic through usage of terms like transitional republic, Kiran has come out, unequivocally, with a proposal to go for people’s republic through people’s revolt.

This is said to be the first time that party chairman Prachanda has faced such a serious challenge over his leadership from within his party.

The central committee meeting is taking place ahead of National Cadres’ Conference slated to begin from Thursday. The conference is expected to finalise the party’s strategy in current situation.

http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/nov/nov19/news02.php

Related article:
☞ Kiran counters Prachanda.. (NepalNews, 11.17)

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KCTU published last week its..

Organizing Strategy of Migrant Workers in South Korea

1. General Situation of Migrant workers in South Korea

- Roughly 640,000 migrant workers
- roughly 220,000 undocumented
- roughly 420,000 documented
- Work in small to middle-size manufacturing companies, construction, service
- From 100+ countries, 30% women

2. Policy on Migrant Workers

- Documented migrant workers are regulated through the Employment Permit System
- 3-year short-term visa (1 year contracts renewed each year)
- restriction in changing workplaces
- usually very poor working conditions (low wages, long hours, night-time work, lack of rest days, verbal and physical abuse, etc.)
- government planning to reduce costs of employing migrant workers by placing part of meal and housing costs on workers and increasing training period (during which wages are lower than minimum)

- Undocumented workers: Since 2003 only policy is arrest, detention and deportation
- Crackdown brings everyday fear, injury and death in raids and human rights abuses
- Government proclaimed concentrated crackdown until end of the year- goal of arresting 20,000
- Working to strengthen crackdown through increased infrastructure, personnel and revision of immigration law

3. Organizing Strategies (separate migrant workers union, industrial union, local general unions)

1) Organizing through/into separate migrant workers trade union

- Case
* Seoul-Gyeonggi-Inchoen Migrants Trade Union (launched on April 24, 2005) (affiliated to KCTU)
* Most members are undocumented migrant workers.
* tried to register for legal union status but the government reject
* 1 Feb, 2007 High Court recognized that “undocumented migrants are also considered as workers who have rights to form and join a union.”
* Ministry of Labor has appeal to Supreme Court; decision expected before the end of the year
* KCTU filed a case to the ILO CFA
* Wide international support (unions, human rights organizations) for MTU’s legalization as a means to set a precedent for undocumented migrant workers freedom of association
- ITUC submitted amicus brief (analysis of international law pertaining to freedom of association) in MTU’s Supreme Court case

 
- Merits
* Avenue for migrant workers to fight for their rights themselves and become leaders of their own movement (all elected officers are migrant workers)  
* Paying more attention on the reform of related laws and systems (eg. EPS, Immigration law etc)
* More effective to raise the general problems on migrant workers socially

- Weaknesses
* difficulties to conduct normal trade union activities (eg. wage negotiation, collective bargaining)
* vulnerable status of undocumented leadership and members makes easy for government to attack

2) Organizing through/into Industry-level Union

Efforts are being made in the Metal Workers Union and the Federation of Construction Industry Trade Unions

- Case
* Samwoo Precision Machinery Chapter of Daegu Local Branch of Korean Metal Workers’ Union
* In struggling to establish the chapter organizers realized the importance of including the migrant workers. Union shop rules were included in the first collective bargaining agreement so that all migrant workers became members. In result, 22 Indonesian migrant workers join the union in 2007.
* The CBA also applies to all union members regardless of their nationalities. (fundamentally pursuing equal remuneration for equal value of work)

- Merits
* normal trade union activities : collective bargaining, training etc.
* single unionism between local and migrant workers, builds solidarity between native and migrant workers.
* organizing documented workers

- Weaknesses
* difficulties in maintaining communication between local and migrant union members (esp. translation issue)
* concerns for shop floor organizing tends to mean pay less attention of mobilization to reform the related laws and systems (eg. EPS, Immigration Law)
* concerns that majority national workers act as proxy for minor migrant workers inside the union. In result, fails to increase the real awareness on the subject of rights amongst migrant workers and leadership of migrant workers
* concerns for TU to pay less attention on undocumented workers
* Most industrial unions not well-prepared to accept migrant workers

3) Organizing through/into local-based union

- Case
* Making efforts to organize migrant workers into local general union
* Case: Seongseo Industrial Complex General Union, migrant organizing department
- 50+ migrant members (Indonesia, Bangladesh, Filipino)
- Education, mobilizing on migrant issues
* Certain KCTU Regional Branches provide services for migrant workers on back wages and OHS matters, organizing large scale training course for both national and migrant workers

- Merits
* Can pay more attention to migrant worker education and training
* Can foster integration between native and migrant workers
* Can pay more attention to undocumented migrant workers in small and medium sized companies that the industry-level unions cannot reach

-  Weaknesses
* limitations in terms of raise the policy issues related to migrant workers on a national level.
* General lack of resources in local unions makes expansion of organizing difficult

3. Conclusions

 All 3 organizing strategies have merits and weaknesses. Need to assess which one is appropriate in what conditions and find a way to implement and coordinate all 3.

 Role of National Center in coordinating 3 organizing strategies should be greatly emphasized.

 Need create a system for communication and building unity between migrant workers in all types of unions so they can express their demands in a way that their voice will not be excluded or ignored

4. Future Tasks

- Need to enhance efforts to provide basic services including education, training and educational materials in mother languages related to labour laws for migrant workers. The goal of these would be to increase class consciousness and rights consciousness amongst migrant workers so that they can become actors demanding their rights for themselves. 

- Need to organize training and education courses for native workers so they become familiar with the conditions of migrant workers and come to consider the issues of migrant workers as their own (eg. Regular education course on migrant workers rights for native workers, regular opportunities for migrant workers and native workers to come together)

- Mobilization for the purpose of reforming the related laws and systems including EPS and Immigration law so as to create unionization-friendly circumstance for migrant workers

- Increased intervention in the official migration process implemented by the South Korean government and governments in countries of origin so as to organize documented workers under the Employment Permit System.

- Building more systematic structure for organizing migrant workers and dealing with migrant workers issues at every level including national center, industry-level union and regional branches.

- Strengthening cooperation with trade unions of origin countries so as to organize migrant workers more effectively. 
 

KCTU's "Organizing Strategy.." paper (word document) you can download here!

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Once again, like every year (^^): Remember the Sit-in Struggle of migrant workers in S. Korea!

Five years ago, in the night from Nov. 15 to Nov. 16, about 200 migrant workers have begun the 387-day sit-in strike on Myeong-dong Cathedral's compound (in downtown Seoul) to protest and resist against the beginning of S.K. government's crackdown - manhunt, mass arrests and deportations - against (undocumented) migrant workers in the country..

Previous contributions to "celebrate" (incl. pictures and music) the "anniversary":
☞ 2005

☞ 2006

☞ 2007

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Call for Action Against the Massive Crackdown on Migrant Workers in Maseok, South Korea

A massive and unlawful crackdown by the Ministry of Justice and police force took place in the Seong-Sang Furniture Factory Complex in Maseok (Namyangju City, Gyeonggi-do, S. Korea) today on November 12th from 9:30AM. This crackdown was a co-operation between the Prosecutor's Office and the Police force, with 100 police officers, and immigration offices of Seoul, Eujeongbu, and Incheon Airport. 

The crackdown began with the block-down of the front and the back gate of the Maseok factory complex with police buses, and the immigration officers grabbed migrant workers on the street, in the factories, in the dormitories and homes, resulting in more than 100 migrant workers in custody. During the crackdown, human rights of migrant workers were severely violated, as the immigration officers failed to present proper identification, verbal and physical abuse, excessive use of force including handcuffs, unlawful breaking and entering into personal homes and factories, and racially-based targeting of migrant workers regardless of checking their passport or visa. 

Among those who were taken by the immigration include a young Bangladeshi mother of a four-year-old, and a Nepalese male worker in de facto marriage with a Korean woman, awaiting official documentations sent from Nepal with their 11-month-old son.  Also, many migrant workers were injured during this violent crackdown while running away from the chase from immigration officers, two among which needing serious operations. One migrant worker injured his knees and foot while running away from the immigration, but was locked in the immigration office without given treatment despite his several pleas of pains and medical needs. According to the press release from the Ministry of Justice, another crackdown also took place in the Cheong-san Farm in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi-do in a similar manner.

This massive crackdown is putting migrant workers, documented and undocumented, in the state of terror and fear, depriving them of their labor and human rights. The fact that police force was active and present during the immigration crackdown makes us question the willingness from the government to protect the basic human rights of migrant workers. In this state of terror that the crackdown created, many migrant workers are afraid of stepping out of their homes, to the extent that a pregnant Filipina woman with a valid working visa was afraid of going to a hospital.

Despite of the apparent violence that was place upon the lives of migrant workers, the Ministry of Justice is claiming that “this massive crackdown operation is to uphold the order of foreigners’ residence because the living area of illegal aliens has become slums free of public order and the hotbed of crimes committed by foreigners,” according to their press release. The Ministry further argues that this crackdown “is inevitable to uphold the national legal order, to protect local citizens, and to protect the human rights of illegal aliens themselves.”

Yet the data on the crimes in Maseok area shows that the rate of crime for foreigners is even lower than that of Korean citizens, and the local citizens contest the absurdity of claiming Maseok as a slum full of crimes.

Rather, the factory complex of Maseok is the center of local economy, and this kind of massive crackdown against migrant workers who work and live side by side with Korean citizens hurt the local residents, rather than protecting them, let alone protecting the rights of migrant workers. In fact, the true reason that these two places - Maseok and Yeoncheon - were selected as targets of massive crackdown under the Lee Myung-bak government is because of their previous history of resisting the violent immigration crackdown, where local Korean citizens and migrant workers all came together to fight for their rights. 

In the face of this unlawful and violent crackdown, we demand the government to apologize and to release those who were taken during the crackdown. The legal order cannot be stepped upon the human rights violation of migrant workers nor the violent against them. Therefore, we ask the government to take the following action:

- Stop unlawful and violent crackdown against migrant workers

- Stop the proposed co-operation of crackdown with immigration and police force

- Apologize for human rights violations and bring those responsible to justice

- Release the migrant workers from the crackdown immediately

2008, Nov. 12

Alliance for the Human Rights of Migrant Workers
Joint Committee with Migrants in Korea
Seoul-Incheon-Gyeonggi Migrant Trade Union (MTU) 

Source of the statement: MTU

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1.) It seems that the Wednesday's crackdown attack against migrant workers in Maseok/Namyangju (see my contribution from y'day) is not only aimed on "reducing the number of illegal migrants" (according to the Ministry of 'Justice').. I think there is something much more important behind it!
   The main aim of the LMB gov't are "activities of illegal migrants — including forming a union and protesting to have their immigration status legalized and participating in political protests.." The main goal is the MTU and its destruction, once and for all - as soon as possible!!
   And finally its simply a primitive attempt (by the gov't) to take revenge for the activities of migrant workers in S.K. "as they have unionized and are starting to demand legalization of their status" (as JoongAng Ilbo quoted today a Mo'J' official).

2.) An editorial in today's Hankyoreh demanded:

Stop the crackdowns on migrant workers 

Another indiscriminate crackdown on unregistered migrant workers was started again. The day before yesterday, the Ministry of Justice and police arrested some 130 migrant workers in Gyeonggi Province’s Namyangju City and Yeoncheon County. This brutal crackdown was aimed at achieving tangible results as part of an internal target to arrest and expel some 20,000 unregistered migrant workers by the end of this year.

Some said this crackdown was like a military operation. When police officers sealed off a small street, blocking a group of migrant workers, immigration officials from the Justice Ministry arrested them (*). It is inhumane and goes against human rights. This particular approach is highly likely to cause accidents or injuries. In January, an ethnic Korean migrant worker from China died after falling off an eight-story building to avoid detention during a similar crackdown. In April, a Bangladeshi worker was seriously injured after falling off a three-story building. During the crackdown two days ago, five migrant workers were wounded, including a Cameroonian worker whose ankle was broken. Such a fox hunt, which could cause the death of a worker, should be stopped immediately.

Undocumented migrant workers, estimated to total some 220,000 people in South Korea, lose their legal status as a result of the government’s deplorable policy. Authorities ban migrant workers from moving to other factories, despite the fact that they receive far lower wages than Korean workers. Just when they get used to their work, the work permit system requires that they return to their nations. Unless the government revises the work permit system and discriminatory wage structure, it will be impossible to reduce the number of undocumented migrant workers. With those fundamental problems continually ignored, strengthening the crackdown can’t fix things.

It is time to change our fundamental view of migrant workers. Regardless of their legal status, migrant workers contribute to the society in many ways. They help small and medium-sized businesses, which are struggling with the economic malaise, as well as the areas where they live, by stimulating their local economies. People have the right to live where they want. Undocumented migrant workers should be given legal status, not expelled.

 
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_editorial/321805.html

* Almost the same tactics they used in their permanent attempts to arrest us during our (ETU-MB, MSSC) protest rallies/demonstrations between 2002 and 2005...

3.) The conservative/reactionary JoongAng Ilbo published today following article:

Illegal workers injured in Gyeonggi crackdown

Police and the immigration office arrested over 100 illegal immigrants in Namyangju and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province in an aggressive crackdown that is being criticized by human rights groups.

According to the Ministry of Justice, 280 Korea Immigration Service and police officers raided the Maseok industrial park in Namyangju and an industrial area in Yeoncheon County on Wednesday morning. It was the biggest clampdown on illegal migrant workers since President Lee Myung-bak took office.

After surrounding the area so the workers could not escape, the officials entered the factories and dormitories and began checking passports.

A migrant worker from Cameroon tried to escape over a wall but fell and fractured his ankle. Four other workers were also injured.

Those arrested will be sent to a detention center for foreigners and then deported.

“The migrant workers were chased like rabbits and some were injured as they tried to escape,” said Lee Young, a Catholic priest and a senior member of the Joint Committee with Migrants in Korea. “Even a mother with a five-year-old daughter was arrested.”

The Justice Ministry, however, is determined to continue such crackdowns. “There are 700 illegal migrant workers in Maseok industrial park and 200 in Yeoncheon,” it told the press. “We will take stern measures against illegal workers, who are violating the law.”

The crackdown was conducted as part of a plan to reduce the number of illegal workers here. The ministry plans to cut the number to 200,000 from the current 220,000 in a bid to reduce the illegal portion of foreigners in Korea to 10 percent from the current 19.3 percent by 2012.

The ministry said the illegal worker situation has reached a boiling point, as they have unionized and are starting to demand legalization of their status.

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2897347

Related article:
☞ Declaration of War - LMB Gov't vs. Migrant Workers

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Yesterday (11.13) the E.Land strike has been finished and Hankyoreh reported today following:

After 510 days, E.Land union signs off on a deal

 
Sense of solidarity united regular and irregular workers(*), some of whom prepare for new struggles as others prepare to move on 
 
“Day 510 of the strike. It was very tough. It feels good now that it’s finished, but I think some bitterness will remain in one corner of my heart for a long time.”

A shadow briefly fell over the face of E.Land Irregular Workers’ Union President Kim Kyung-wook, 39, as he explained the circumstances of the strike’s end in a steady, clear voice while sitting in a meeting room in the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in Seoul’s Yeongdeung-po on Thursday afternoon.

That morning, Hwang Seon-yeong, acting head of the World Cup branch, cried all the way back after finishing the signing ceremony for a labor-management agreement with Samsung Tesco at a Home Plus in Seoul’s Siheung-dong neighborhood. Hwang said this was because she felt bad about other union members who could not return to work even though the strike was over. The atmosphere at the general meeting of union members Tuesday, where the provisional agreement plan was passed with 87 percent agreement, was also glum. They were promised a prohibition on additional outsourcing and guarantees for the hiring of temporary workers as regular workers, but 12 union leaders, including Kim, were not reinstated following the company’s refusal. Kim said, “I think people who know how we’ve fought so far will sufficiently understand” how they were unable to achieve their demands for reinstatement. He recognized the inevitability of some sacrifice in attaining results from the long struggle for temporary workers, including the blocking of additional outsourcing. He also said that a determination that “we have to return to work strong” before the striking ranks grew more tired also played a part. Once numbering 600, the striking union members recently dwindled to 180.

“That we’ve made it this far is a victory for the older female union members,” the union leaders agreed. When they began their sit-down strike at the Sangam-dong Homever on June 30 of last year, one day before enforcement of the irregular workers’ law, in response to the E.Land Group’s outsourcing of calculation duties and cancellation of contracts, nobody expected that the battle would last for more than 500 days. “We planned for two days and one night, but the union members went 20 days, saying, ‘We can’t leave, nothing’s been resolved.’ It was the memories of struggle we made together then that pulled me through 500 days,” said Hong Yoon-gyeong, the union’s director. Hundreds of union members were taken away by police or charged and indicted, faced with a lawsuit for compensatory damages close to 30 billion won, and suffered from livelihood difficulties, but they did not back down.

The E.Land struggle is expected to go down as a “beautiful example of solidarity between regular workers and temporary workers,” in which regular worker union leaders dedicated themselves to the struggle of irregular workers. Kim Kyung-wook said, “If regular workers don’t take the initiative, it’s difficult for temporary workers to make their own individual union and fight that way.” Vice President Lee Nam-shin was fired and donated his 70 million won in severance pay for the costs of the struggle, and Kim led the strike even as his two sons were receiving treatment after being diagnosed with possible developmental disorders.

The union is to tear down its strike tent in front of the World Cup Home Plus at 7:00 Friday evening and hold one last “cultural festival” for the struggle. It is expected that they will continue the “battle for reinstatement” with other individuals fired by the E.Land Group who are not affiliated with Homever.

 
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/321800.html
 

Related article:
☞ E.Land Management, Labor Reach Accord (K. Times, 11.13)

* PS:

Please don't forget that the striking E.Land workers were also supporting/joining the struggle of MTU!!!

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It's likely wellknown that the S.K. president Lee Myeong-bak(LMB) is a hard-core christian believer... So he likes to offer a very special "Year's End/Christmas" present:

A MASSIVE WAVE OF CRACKDOWN

TERROR ON MIGRANT WORKERS

Yesterday morning hundreds of riot cops and immigration officers launched the biggest crackdown on undocumented migrant workers of the LMB administration, raiding the industrial complex of Maseok/Namyangju (in the Gyeonggi Province, north of Seoul), arresting about 100 migrant workers.

The riot cops and immigration officers apparently surrounded the target areas and advanced, using tools to break down doors. Witnesses say at least five migrants were injured in the operation.

A 'Justice' Ministry official said they believed there to be about 700 "illegal" migrants in Maseok, and that they would take "strong measures against disturbances caused by illegal migrants".

He also said they’d launch two or three more major raids before the end of the year (!!).

The crackdowns are part of the government’s plan, announced Sept. 30, to deport at least 20,000 un-documented migrant workers until the end of the year. 
The Mo'J' put these plans in place when it judged that the "activities of illegal migrants — including forming a union and protesting to have their immigration status legalized and participating in political protests such as demonstrations against the deployment of Korean troops to Iraq — had reached a serious level".

Based on a report by Yonhap (via Naver)

Related article:

☞ MoJ's "victory": More migrant workers deported..

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Source: KCTU, '땅의 사람'