401개의 게시물을 찾았습니다.
* Well, just enjoy the...
Chuseok Migrant Workers Festival in Ansan (Sept. 13 - 15)
Ansan Migrant Center, one of the consultation and service centers for migrant workers in S.K. is to hold its festival, focusing especially on traditional aspects of eight countries during the Chuseok Holiday from Sept. 13 to 15.
The “Eight Countries, Eight Colors Festival" will feature traditional dances and folk games from eight countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Korea. The stage will be held at the so-called “Borderless Village” in Wongo-dong, Ansan, Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province).
The first day will be made up of several small functions within each national community in separate locations, including Wongok Elementary School (China), Gimpo Migrant Center (Sri Lanka) and so forth. There will be singing contests, sports events and food sharing for each community.
The full-fledged festival will take place on the second day as a combined performance of eight cultures comes together at the outdoor stage of the Borderless Village. The performance will include China's Sheep Dance, Sri Lanka's Kandian Dance, Indonesia's Barongan dance, Mongolia's Heumi performance, Philippines' Igorot dance, Korea's B-boy group “Mik Crew,” Ethiopia's Tiebebe Band and Africa's Strong Afrika Dance.
Also at the festival there will be various traditional games and martial arts, including Mongolian shooting and archery, Russia's darts, Sri Lanka's Gabotara, Thailand's Sepak Takro, Korea's taekwondo and more.
The third day will be the closing day of the third Migrant Worker Film Festival “We're from the same world!" in the evening from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The movies introduced in the festival will look into various aspects of encountering different faces and different cultures and the dream of unity. A quiz show and parades will also be held.
Throughout the festival one can also watch the making of traditional rice cakes from Korea (songpyeon), China (moon cakes) and Vietnam (bancheung) and sample them during the show. Some 10,000 people are expected to participate, including nearby locals.
For more information contact Ansan Migrant Center & Ansan Foreign Workers' Center at (031-492-8785~6, 031-475-0111).
While the expected 600 foreigners failed to show up on the Anti-Candlelight Protest announced for last Sat. in downtown Seoul (actually only 300 people attended the "event"!!^^) activists and supporters of MTU joined the massive Anti-gov't Rally and combined it with their own campaign against the ongoing wave of crackdown (by the S.K. gov't. "authorities") on undocumented migrant workers in general and MTU activists in particular:
7월 5일 오후 5시부터 8시 30분까지 촛불집회가 열리는 서울시청 광장에서
'이주노동자 권리찾기' 캠페인을 진행하였습니다.
광우병 쇠고기 수입 반대 촛불집회에 참가한 수많은 시민들이 이주노동자 권리찾기
캠페인에 함께해 주셨습니다.
줄을 서서 서명운동에 동참하고 모금도 해주시는 등 호응이 너무나 좋았습니다.
"한국사회에서 이주노동자들이 올바른 인권과 노동권을 찾을 수 있도록 연대하자",
"단속추방이 너무 심해 촛불집회에도 나오기 힘든 이주노동자들의 권리를 찾자" 등
우리의 주장과 호소에 너무나 많은 시민들이 함께해 주셨습니다. 모금도 42만원이나
되었고, 서명용지가 모자랄 정도였습니다.
참여해 주신 모든 분들께 감사드립니다.
MTU recently started a new agit-prop campaign (*) against the latest/ongoing massive wave of crackdown, initiated by the S.K. gov't, against un-documented migrant workers in general and the MTU and its activists in particular. The campaign is - of course - also aiming on organizing migrant workers in S.K. in the MTU... Here's MTU's campaign leaflet, released today:
Migrant Workers Unionize!
The Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants Trade Union (MTU), an affiliate of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, was founded as a union for and by migrant workers on 24 April 2005. Since its founding, MTU has been struggling to protect the labor rights of both documented and undocumented migrant workers. MTU has been has been one of the strongest voices calling for revision of the problematic laws governing documented migrant workers, such as restriction on transfer of workplaces and annually renewed contracts. It has also been fighting to secure the 3 basic labor rights of undocumented migrant workers and to stop the human-hunting crackdown against undocumented migrants.
MTU’s Legal Battle
The Ministry of Labor has denied MTU’s legal union status on the basis that MTU’s founders are undocumented migrant workers who it says do not have the same rights afforded workers in the South Korean Constitution and the Trade Union Law.
This claim was rejected by the Seoul High Court on 1 February 2007, which ruled in favor of MTU. The High Court stating that undocumented migrants who have entered into employment relations should be seen as workers under the Constitution and Trade Union Law, and therefore are entitled to freedom of association. It also stated that while the Immigration Control Law prohibits the act of employing foreigners without residence status, it does not have jurisdiction over their rights as workers once they have entered into relationships of employment.
Despite the High Court decision, the Ministry of Labor is still refusing to acknowledge MTU’s legal union status and has appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The new conservative president Lee Myeong-bak has also stated he will not tolerate MTU and has created a wider situation of repression against migrant workers. MTU’s needs the support of unions around the world to assure it will gain the legal recognition it deserves!
International Law and Undocumented Migrant Workers’ Right to Freedom of Association
Under the South Korean Constitution, international conventions ratified by the ROK have the same force as domestic law. South Korea has signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). All of these conventions protect the right to freedom of association of all workers regardless of social status. In particular, CERD General Recommendation No. 30(2004) states that “guarantees against racial discrimination apply to non-citizens regardless of their immigration status” (paragraph 7) and that “while States parties may refuse to offer jobs to non-citizens without a work permit, all individuals are entitled to the enjoyment of labor and employment rights, including the freedom of assembly and association, once an employment relationship has been initiated until it is terminated” (paragraph 32).
What is more, ILO Convention No. 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize) protects the right to freedom of association for all workers, “without distinction whatsoever” and has been shown to apply to undocumented migrant workers through Committee on Freedom of Association recommendations (UGT, 2001 and AFL-CIO/CTM, 2002).
MTU’s case is not just about the rights of migrant workers in South Korea. By winning legal recognition, MTU will be setting a real precedent for the right to freedom of association of undocumented migrant workers around the world, bringing to life the principles set out in international labor and human rights law.
Repression against MTU: Targeted Crackdown
Since even before MTU was founded, the government has used a tactic of targeted arrest and deportation of leaders of the migrant workers movement as a way to weaken their unionizing. MTU’s first president was arrested in the middle of the night shortly after the union was founded, and kept in a detention center for close to a year before finally being release for medical reasons.
On 27 2007 November the President, Vice President and General Secretary of MTU were all arrested at the same time in separate locations in Seoul by multiple immigration officers who had lay in waiting hidden near their homes or workplace. They were deported in the middle of the night on December 13 despite the fact that a National Human Rights Commission investigation concerning their arrests was still underway.
Only 5 months later the newly elected MTU President and Vice President were arrested, detained and deported in the exact same matter. Despite a decision of the National Human Rights Commission on 15 May calling for a stay of detention until its investigation of the arrests was completed, the two men were taken from their cells that day and transported to Incheon Airport before their lawyers were notified and deported at roughly 9:30 that evening. These targeted arrests are clearly abuses of the authority to detain and deport undocumented migrant workers under the Immigration Control Law and acts of labor repression...
* incl. the Int'l Signature Campaign:
☞ Stop Repression against Migrant Workers in South Korea!
The South Korean Migrants' Trade Union(MTU) organized a Conference in Kathmandu(D.F.R.Nepal) at June 12-14, 2008. The Conference concluded with a Press Conference organised yesterday at GEFONT(General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions) HQ in Kathmandu.
"We, former ETUMB (Equality Trade Union Migrant Branch) and MTU Ex-officers and current MTU officers, have gathered in Kathmandu Nepal from June 12-14, to demonstrate that targeted crackdown cannot stop us from fighting for the rights of migrant workers in South Korea and around the world" the press statement reads.
The Conference identifying as the "International Conference", which aims to Networking between the workers of countries of origin and Migrant Workers in South Korea. The participants discussed different aspects to protect the migrant workers rights in Nepal, Bangladesh and other labour sending countries. The conference draws following recommendations:
• agree to establish the International Migrant Workers Solidarity Network (IMWSN) for the purpose of regular systematic communication and joint action between Nepal, Bangladesh and South Korea with the prospect of expanding to include other countries in the future, feel urgency of pre-departure education and training for workers before s/he migrates to South Korea through the Employment Permit System, to organise international events such as International Migrants Day – December 18, to protect the migrant workers right, agree to form an organization for returned ETUMB and MTU members to strength the communication and mobilisation in Bangladesh and other countries
• agree to support and strengthen the GEFONT Migrants' committee and encourage to organise return migrants widely in Nepal,
reaffirm the symbolic meaning of MTU as a union formed by and for migrant workers regardless of visa status, and committed ourselves to work necessary to win MTU's legal recognition, and
• agree to protest in front of the South Korean embassy in different countries to make known our demands directly to the South Korean government
The migrant workers movement in South Korea was created through the efforts of the Equality Trade Union Migrants Branch, the Myeongdong Cathedral Sit-in Protest and the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants Trade Union. For the purpose numbers of migrant workers forced to return their home since 2002 to till today. The South Korean government is using targeted crackdown against movement leaders.
Samar Thapa, Kajiman, Torna Limbu all were president of MTU and along with Raju Gurung and others deported to Nepal. Masum and numbers of Bangladeshi leaders had also been deported in similar way to their countries.
Source: GEFONT
Here you can read the final official..
Conference Statement
The migrant workers movement in South Korea was created through the efforts of the Equality Trade Union Migrants Branch, the Myeongdong Cathedral Sit-in Protest and the Seoul-Gyeonggi-Incheon Migrants Trade Union. While working to build this movement many migrant worker activists were forced to return to their home countries from 2002 to till now due to the South Korean government's targeted crackdown against movement leaders.
We, former ETUMB and MTU Ex-officers and current MTU officers, have gathered in Kathmandu Nepal from June 12-14, to demonstrate that targeted crackdown cannot stop us from fighting for the rights of migrant workers in South Korea and around the world. We have done this organizing an International Conference on Networking between the workers of countries of Origin and Migrant Workers in South Korea. Over the past two and a half days we have discussed different aspects to protect the migrant workers rights in Nepal, Bangladesh and other origin countries with following recommendations.
These outcomes show clearly that far from being stopped by the South Korean government's repression, we are able to turn our experience working together in the past into an opportunity to strengthen the migrant workers movement in South Korea and create meaningful relationships between movements in countries of origin and countries of destination.
To this end we have resolved to raise awareness of MTU's struggle for the right to freedom of association of undocumented migrant workers in our home countries and internationally and lift up a collective voice to recognize MTU's legal status by the South Korean government. Through our International Conference we have renewed our comradeship and trust and committed ourselves to work together with new international capacity. This commitment is not only limited to this Network but also to enhance the movement for workers rights in our own countries and throughout the world.
The participants of the International Conference on Networking
between Countries of Origin and Migrant Workers in South Korea
Kathmandu, 14th June, 2008
소부르 부위원장이 강제 퇴거 과정에 대해
방글라데시에서 보내 온 편지
2008년 5월 15일 1시 30분 경, 청주보호소 직원 한명이 나를 밖으로 불러냈다. ‘왜 불렀냐’고 라고 물어보자, 출입국직원은 ‘누군가를 만나야 하니 밖으로 나와달라’고 했다. 그들은 나를 다른 방으로 데리고 갔다. 그들에게 무슨 일인지 물어보자, 그 중의 한 사람이 ‘나는 지난 12월달에 마숨을 방글라데시까지 데리고 간 적이 있다. 내가 당신을 방글라데시까지 데리고 갈 것이다’라고 대답했다. 그때 나는 ‘지금 몸이 너무 안 좋다. 또 현재 국가인권위원회와 법원에 진정서를 제출한 상태이기 때문에, 건강 상태가 회복되고 국가인권위원회와 법원에 제출한 진정서의 결과가 나올 때까지 나는 방글라데시로 귀국할 수 없다. 이런 상태에서 나를 강제출국 시키는 것은 국가위원회 규정위반이며, 현재 상태에서 방글라데시로 돌아가면 문제가 발생할 수 있다’고 말했다. 그러자 출입국사무소의 책임자는 ‘법무부 장관의 강제퇴거 명령이 내려와 있는 상태이다. 어쨌든 당신을 방글라데시로 돌려보낼 것이다. 모든 책임은 장관과 지위가 높은 사람들이 질 것이다. 우리는 더 이상의 어떠한 말도 할 수 없다’. 그리고 나서는 나에게 더 이상 질문하지 말라고 했다.
그 후 보호소 직원 두 명과 함께 물건을 챙기라면서 방으로 돌려보냈다. 타월 하나, 러닝셔츠 두 개, 팬티 두 개를 챙기자, 보호소 직원은 나를 다시 조사실로 데리고 갔다. 그때 나는 병원에서 제대로 된 치료를 받게 해달라는 요구를 가지고 3일째 단식을 하고 있는 중이었다. 조사실에 돌아와서 보니, 출입국에서는 토르너 위원장에게도 자기 짐을 챙겨서 오라고 얘기하고 있는 중이었다. 우리가 옷을 갈아입자, 보호소 직원들이 여러 가지 서류를 내밀며 서명을 하라고 했다. 하지만 우리는 사인을 거부했다. 그 후 우리를 사무실 밖으로 데리고 나와 차에 싣고 어디론가 가길래, ‘어디로 가는 것이냐? 우리의 변호인과 다른 사람들에게 전화를 해야하니 전화를 걸어달라’라고 요청했다. 하지만 12∼13명가량 정도 되는 법무부와 보호소직원들은 우리의 요구를 묵살하고, 지금은 말할 수 없으니 비행기를 탄 후에 어디에 가는지 알려주겠다고 했다. 그들은 우리에게 수갑을 채운 채 차에 실어 청주보호소의 정문을 피해 작은 골목길을 통해 보호소 밖으로 나왔다.
그 후 차에서 내려 논밭을 가로질러 한참 걸어가자 인적이 드문 곳에 세워둔 차가 있어 그 차로 갈아탔다. 비행기 시간이 많이 남았던지 그 근처를 뱅뱅 돌며 시간을 보낸 후 5시10분에서 30분 사이에 인천공항에 도착했다. 공항에 도착해보니 이미 출입국직원과 법무부 직원이 대기하고 있었다. 우리는 그들의 안내를 따라 일반인 출입이 통제된 곳으로 들어가 출국수속을 마쳤다. 인천공항에는 추방을 기다리는 외국인의 대기실이 있었지만 우리는 따로 마련된 대기실 들어가게 되었다. 그곳에는 4-5개월 쯤 되어 보이는 아기를 안고 있는 필리핀 사람이 있었다. 그곳에서 다시 한번 전화통화를 요청했으나 묵살되었다. 그곳에서 저녁 8시 30분까지 대기하고 있었다.
법무부와 출입국직원들은 8시 30 이후 우리를 방에서 데리고 나와 출국심사대로 데리고 가 출국수속을 밟았다. 그때 나와 토르너 림부, 우리 두 사람은 약간의 한국 돈을 소지하고 있는 상태여서 환전을 요청했다. 토르너 림부 위원장은 대략 45만 원 정도가 있었고 나는 166,000원을 가지고 있었다. 그곳에 있던 법무부 책임자는 한 직원에게 환전을 해오라고 했다. 그 환전 영수증에는 환전을 했던 직원의 이름, 은행명, 시간 등이 기록되어있다. 대략 9시 정도에 그 직원이 달러가 들어있는 국민은행 봉투, 환전영수증, 잔돈 등을 건네주었다. 몇 분 후에 나와 토르너 림부는 비행기에 탑승했다. 비행기에 탑승한 후, 비행기에 타고 있는 한국인과 외국인 승객들에게 핸드폰을 좀 빌려달라고 부탁을 했고, 한 한국여성이 핸드폰을 빌려줘서 이주노조 에 전화를 걸 수 있었다. ‘우리는 지금 강제로 출국당하는 중이며 현재 비행기에 탑승해 있는 상태’라고 이야기하였다. 그때 우리가 탄 타이항공의 이륙시간이 지연되어 승객들이 승무원들에게 항의를 하자, 비행기에서는 ‘비행기 안에 두 명의 범죄자가 탑승하고 있어서 이륙이 지연되고 있으니 잠시만 더 기다려달라’는 내용의 안내방송을 내 보냈다. 그때 타이항공 승무원이 나와 토르너 림부에게 ‘당신들이 비행기에 내리게 될 가능성이 있다’라고 이야기 하길래, ‘우리를 당장 이 비행기에서 내려주었으면 좋겠다’라고 답변했다. 그러자 그 승무원은 대답하지 않고 그냥 나가버렸다.
그 후 15분에서 20분 후, 법무부와 출입국 직원 4명이 우리 옆자리 앉았고 잠시 후 비행기가 이륙하였다. 우리는 다시 어떤 여성승객에게 핸드폰을 빌려서 비행기가 이륙하였다는 사실을 이주노조에 전달하였다. 그때 시간은 밤 9시 30분이었다. 비행기는 방콕에 대략 자정 즈음에 도착했고, 방콕 공항에는 이미 출입국(혹은 법무부)직원 한 명이 우리를 기다리고 있었다. 그리고 한국에서 온 네 명의 출입국 직원들과 타이항공 출입관련 직원이 우리를 타이공항의 보호실로 데리고 갔다. 그곳에서 다른 외국인들과 함께 밤을 보냈다. 다음날 아침, 나는 바게 되었다. 그 사람이 나에게 다가와서 자기소개를 하면서 말하기를 ‘나는 당신들이 여기 오기 일주일 전부터 방콕에 미리 와서 기다라고 있었다. 당신들을 강제 출국시킬 때 문제가 발생하지 않게 하기 위해서 미리 와 있었던 것이다’라고 했다. 그는 나에게 사탕을 선물로 주면서 이런 상황에 대해서 미안하다는 얘기와 법무부 장관이 출입국의 모든 권한을 가지고 있다는 얘기, 그리고 서울출입국사무소 소장이 토르너 림부의 강제퇴거를 결정했다는 얘기를 했다.
그날 10시 30분, 타이 공항 출입국을 통과하여 방글라데시로 가는 비행기에 탑승했고, 타이 시간으로 10시 55분에 비행기가 이륙했다. 그리고 정. 한국의 국가인권위원회에서 조사가 끝나기 전까지는 강제퇴거중지하라는 결정을 내렸음에도 불구하고, 법무부와 출입국에서는 법을 위반하면서까지 나를 강제출국 시킨 것이다. 나는 적법한 절차를 위반하고 국가인권위원회의 정당한 조치를 무시한 법무부 장관과 서울출입국관리소장의 처벌을 원하며, 또한 정신적 신체적 고통을 당한 바 이에 합당한 배상을 요구한다. 내가 청주보호소에 수감되어 있는 동안, 청주보호소 의사와 청주보호소 소장은 내가 적절한 치료를 받도록 해야함에도 불구하고 치료조차 받지 못하게 했기 때문에, 나는 몸과 마음의 고통을 받았다. 보호소에 있는 동안 건강이 악화되었기 때문에 수백 번 진료를 요청했으나 적절한 치료를 받지 못하게 한 것은, 법과 인권을 무시한 처사라고 생각한다. 그래서 나는 청주외국인보호소의 담당 의사와 청주보호소 소장의 처벌과 적절한 배상을 원한다.
2008. 5. 25.
MD ABDUS SOBUR
이주노동조합 부위원장
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