403개의 게시물을 찾았습니다.
"The current economic slowdown is hitting the job market for foreigners, as thousands of foreign workers face being laid off, the Ministry of Labor (MoL) said..", today's Korea Times wrote.
But while the S.K. gov't, i.e. the Ministry of "Justice" in collaboration with the MoL, will continue to deport undocumented migrant workers (K. Times, 12.7), the MoL "will also notify the employers of the government support funds they could receive if they replace their undocumented workers with legal domestic workers..", Korea Herald (12.7) reported.
Related articles:
☞ More Foreign Workers Face Layoff (K. Times, 12.7)
More migrant workers change workplaces (K. Herald, 12.7)
The number of migrant workers who found new workplaces increased by 171 percent to 1,149 in October from 673 in the same month of last year, government officials said yesterday.
The increase mostly resulted from the financial difficulties experienced by their previous companies, the Labor Ministry said.
This indicates that the economic downturn here is most likely to reduce jobs, not only for the domestic workforce, but also for migrant workers who came to Korea to look for better working opportunities.
Although eight out of 10 migrant workers are hired at workplaces with less than 30 employees, those businesses are not exempt from being impacted by the sluggish economy, according to ministry officials.
In reality, the total number of businesses employing migrant workers saw a 6.6 percent drop from 44,667 in 2007 to 41,729 in 2008, ministry officials said.
Meanwhile, it has been discovered that some small and mid-sized firms are suffering from a lack of workforce as the government sent 8,000 foreign workers back to their native countries by force after it started its raid on undocumented workers in October.
The ministry plans to dispatch a support team to the areas populated with undocumented workers to find out the details on the required foreign workforce, said Lee Jae-kap, director-general of the employment policy division at the ministry.
The teams will also notify the employers of the government support funds they could receive if they replace their undocumented workers with legal domestic workers, officials said.
The ministry will grant those enterprises with 1.2 million won per case, said ministry officials, adding that the funds will only be given once per firm.
"We hope this will result in an increase of workplaces, replacing positions filled by undocumented workers with domestic workers, while securing the rights of documented foreign labor living here," Lee said.
Today's Hankyoreh reported following (*):
Progressives launch coalition focused on
improving social welfare
Conference announces ambitious list of policy goals, but having so many different interests represented could be an obstacle
Progressive and reformist elements dispirited since the “candlelight” died down have gathered together again. The “Conference of Political Parties, Civic Groups, and Important Figures from Various Circles for Overcoming the Economic and People’s Welfare Crisis” was officially launched at the National Assembly office building December 4. Some 300 people were in attendance. Park Seok-un of the progressive group Jinbo Corea read a report on developments leading up to the event, and the opening remarks by representatives of various areas of progressivism included comments by Civil Society Organizations’ Network in Korea Chairperson Lee Hak-yeong, Korea Confederation of Trade Union vice Chairwoman Jin Yeong-ok, National Confederation of Farmers Conferences (Jeonnong) Chairperson Han Do-suk, and Korea Youth Corps President Chun Jun-ho.
Five political parties participated in the conference: the Democratic, Democratic Labor, Renewal of Korea, New Progressive and Socialist Parties. Civic groups and organizations in civil society that participated included most of the country’s progressive organizations, including the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, MINBYUN-Lawyers for a Democratic Society, Korean Women’s Association United, and Green Korea United. Also present were representatives from the KCTU, Jeonnong, the National Union of Media Workers, the National Association of Professors for Democratic Society, and others.
Where to go from here? An Jin-geol, general secretary for policy at the National Congress for the Welfare of the People and Democracy said it is “about being a temporary union for the popular welfare.” It is a policy union, he said, not a political confederation that could be characterized as “anti-Grand National Party” or “Alliance for democracy”.
At the meeting, participants announced “three major directions” and “ten policies.”
The “three major directions” the conference wants are to have the “chaebeol conglomerates and the wealthy share the burden,” have state spending concentrate on “improving the well-being of the common people and the middle class,” and have the conference facilitate the “great awakening of President Lee Myung-bak and the complete reform of the way the country is governed.”
The “ten major policies” include some that are very specific, including “the creation of one million jobs of 20 million won a year by injecting 20 trillion won,” “making unemployment payments go longer than one year and six months and have the amount be more realistic,” an “end to the attempt to extend the period of employment for irregular workers,” provide “guaranteed loans for families that own only one house and an extension of maturity periods on those and educational loans, and lower interest rates,” and “the use of the whole of the 2.3 trillion won surplus at the National health insurance for lowering hospital costs and for greater health insurance guarantees.”
Will it happen? It will not be easy. If policy proposals are to be implemented they need to be reflected in the budget. The success of this “union of policy”, therefore, depends on the Democratic Party, since it forms a “negotiating group” on the National Assembly floor. The party’s chairman, Chung Sye-kyun, in his address to the conference, pledged to “go on a budget struggle until the end of December and definitely block anti-democratic laws” from passing. But there is no knowing how long the party will be able to endure the public relations offensive coming from the ruling Grand National Party and conservative news media, which accuse it of holding the budget hostage and ruining state affairs in the process.
Another obstacle is the fact that the participating parties and groups have different interests. The New Progressive Party wants a “union opposing neoliberalism,” while some elder members of the progressive movement are interested in policy about North Korea.
The road ahead will be a long one if the conference is to have the momentum it needs to implement the progressive and reformist values it seeks to have make a difference. It is also too early to have former President Kim Dae-jung and some in the Democratic Party talking about a “democratic union.”
“This is the first point of departure for inspiring hope, and getting beyond the desperation,” said Park Seok-un.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/325869.html
Related articles, published by Chamsesang and KCTU:
☞ 비상시국회의(연석회의) 개최, 민주대연합 씨앗? (12.4)
☞ '민주대연합'의 트라우마가 부른 과잉 논쟁 (12.5)
☞ 정당·시민단체·각계인사 "민생대책마련" 한목소리 (12.4)
Yesterday's "top story" in S. Korea:
"The 12.2 Imjingak Riot"
Today's Hankyoreh reported following about the "event":
Leaflet release ends with violence
Progressive and conservative groups clash over release of leaflets to N. Korea
One person has been injured and one person has been arrested by police after progressive and conservative groups clashed over the launching of anti-North Korea leaflet balloons.
According to statements by members of both sides, six members from the conservative Fighters for Free North Korea and Abductees’ Family Union had planned to go to “Freedom Bridge” on the outskirts of Paju City on Tuesday to airlift 100,000 leaflets using 10 hot air balloons.
Approximately 40 members of the progressive group Jinbo Corea (Progressive Korea) had already arrived at the site, however, and were holding a press conference denouncing the leaflet offensive. The group members said the “sending of leaflets slandering the North” by “anti-North groups” is “a violation of the agreement to stop mutual slander along the Military Demarcation Line, agreed to after the June 15 Joint Statement” that “is making inter-Korean relations, already poor, even more difficult.”
The conservatives arrived in a truck about ten minutes later and a clash ensued. Park Sang-hak, 40, head of the Fighters for Free North Korea, fired a tear-gas pistol into the air.
Another man from the same organization in charge of the balloon detail swung a wrench at people. Some 50 police officers positioned themselves between the two groups, but one of the progressive activists had already been injured, later receiving six stitches in hospital. The conservative activist who had been swinging the wrench was placed under arrest.
Despite obstruction from the progressives, the conservative groups managed to launch one balloon carrying ten thousand leaflets. Members of the progressive organization made off with some of the leaflets that had remained in the conservatives’ truck.
“The other side incited us first by demanding to know who was kidnapped by North Korea,” said Choi Sung-yong, the head of the Abductees’ Family Union. “We are going to launch leaflets as often as we can until the issue of the abducted is resolved.”
Jeong Yong-jun of Jinbo Corea told a different story.
“We didn’t go there for a clash, but the conservative groups came at us with violence,” he said. “The government needs to stop just saying that it is going to restrain the launching of leaflet balloons and take actual action.”
Jinbo Corea says it is going to file a legal complaint with the police against Park for firing a tear-gas pistol and the member of his organization for swinging the wrench.
http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_northkorea/325413.html
And from today's (bourgeois) Korea Herald:
N. Korea leaflets foment ideological clash
An ideological conflict has formed over the sending of anti-North Korea leaflets by South Korean activists into the North's territory.
Dozens of South Korean conservative and liberal activists scuffled yesterday at Imjingak near the western inter-Korean border, as the latter group tried to derail the former's attempt to send the propaganda pamphlets into the North.
A group of North Korean defectors here and family members of South Koreans kidnapped by the North gathered at the venue again earlier in the day to fly balloons that carry 100,000 anti-North leaflets and a thousand one-dollar bills into the communist soil.
However, their plan was blocked by another group of 40 liberal activists who also showed up on the scene to thwart the leaflet flying.
The liberals charged that the spreading of the leaflets would further aggravate inter-Korean ties, which have already deteriorated under the conservative Lee Myung-bak government. Their argument was in line with the liberal Democratic Party's criticism on the leaflet dissemination on Monday. The DP labeled the conservative activists as traitors to South Korea, accusing them of heightening tensions between the South and the North.
Members from both sides were engaged in a fierce physical collision after the liberal members forcefully seized balloons and leaflets belonging to the conservative group from a truck. Conservative members shot blanks from a gas pistol.
Police deployed on scene tried to calm the situation, and the flyer sending was delayed for hours.
"The leaflets would put pressure on the North to return to dialogue with South Korea," said Choi Sung-yong, leader of the union representing family members of kidnapped South Koreans.
Choi said their actions are also taken in retaliation to the communist North's recent measures to tighten up border control against South Korea..
More reports about the "event" you can read/see here:
☞ Groups scuffle with protesters as they send leaflets into N. Korea (Yonhap)
☞ Brawl Near Koreas' Border (WaPo's article)
☞ S. Korean Activists Clash Near DMZ (WaPo, video)
☞ "다 죽여버리겠어"..가스총 쏘고 스패너로 내리치고 (민중의소리)
☞ 삐라살포단체, 진보단체 회원들 폭행 (VoP, video)
As announced last Friday, yesterday afternoon a small protest rally took place in front of Seoul Station to support the struggle of migrant workers in S.K. against the increasing wave of crackdown terror..
MWTV already produced and published a short documentary about the event and you can watch it here!
Almost at the same time a bunch of reactionary idiots (racists!!) demanded from the LMB administration a "stronger crackdown" on migrant workers in S.K. Just see the following "reports" in the bourgeois media..
..by Yonhap (via today's reactionary daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo):
Migrant workers, civic group hold dueling rallies
Migrant workers hold posters yesterday denouncing the immigration crackdown on illegal workers and calling for full labor rights at a rally at Seoul Station. Around 300 workers attended the rally.
Meanwhile, a Korean civic group simultaneously held a rally in Daehangno, Seoul, to urge the government to come down harder on illegal workers. The conservative group argued that illegal migrant workers should be deported to protect Koreans’ job security. The two groups denounced each other.
..by Korea Times (11.30):
Searching for a scapegoat?
Economic hard times have cornered migrant workers in Korea. With the jobless rate growing, ultra conservatives have begun to chant for ousting foreign workers, who complain about the escalation of a crackdown.
In the left photo, a member of the “Alliance for Coping With Foreign Laborers,” a civic group opposing the employment of migrant workers holds a one-man rally Sunday to call for the deportation of foreign employees overstaying their visas, on the plaza in front of Seoul Station, where migrant workers also rallied to denounce the government’s recent crackdown on illegal foreign workers. In the right photo, foreign workers chant slogans calling for the government to stop cracking down on foreign workers.
"Jail term sought for officer opposing crackdown on anti-U.S. beef rallies", today's Korea Herald headlined.
The South Korean prosecution (Seoul Northern District Court) is demanding a three-year jail term for Lee Gil-jun, a riot police officer who refused to return to his unit because he did not want to be mobilized against rallies opposing U.S. beef imports earlier this year, according to Yonhap.
Lee Gil-jun was indicted in August on charges of "desertion and insubordination" because he refused to rejoin his unit (*) after an "overnight leave", motivated by his belief that returning would pit him against the protests that he believed in.
7.25: Press conference with Lee Gil-jun
Korea Times published today following about Lee's case:
3-Yr Jail Term Sought for Riot Policeman
The prosecution has demanded a three-year prison term for a riot police officer who refused to return to his unit in protest of a police crackdown on a candlelit rally against the import of American beef.
Prosecutors Friday asked the Seoul Northern District Court to hand down the jail term to officer Lee Gil-jun, who was indicted in August on charges of deserting his squad, not responding to senior officers' orders, and defaming his seniors.
On July 27, Lee, a 25-year-old riot policeman of six months, held a media briefing after a three-day leave to announce his resolution not to rejoin his Jungnang Police Station unit in northeastern Seoul. He said he was forced to suppress protesters, which he said was against his conscience, and called for the abolishment of the riot police system. A few days later, he presented himself to police for questioning.
Lee said in court, "Everything has happened in a flash since I decided not to return to the unit. I listened to my conscience and acted on it.''
In South Korea, a man can be dispatched to an ordinary military camp or the riot police on a random basis after being drafted.
"If officer Lee had the faith to keep democracy and a law-abiding society, he should not have refused the order to crack down on demonstrators. Lee also disparaged riot police, who exercise public power fairly, by calling them a means of violence,'' a prosecutor said.
A member of civic coalition Korea Solidarity for Conscientious Objection said, "Lee can be considered a conscientious objector, and such people usually get an 18-month jail term. His seems too harsh.''
Lee was not the only riot police officer to protest the rally crackdown. In June, another riot policeman (Lee Gye-deok) requested a transfer to military camp, claiming police work was against his political beliefs and conscience. He was confined in the guardhouse for a month.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/11/117_33732.html
* Related contributions:
☞ Lee Gil-jun - A Riot Cop In Resistance #1
☞ Lee Gil-jun - A Riot Cop In Resistance #2
From Korea Times' latest edition:
Chomsky Hits Defense Ministry for Banning
'Seditious' Books
Renowned American scholar Noam Chomsky has strongly criticized the Ministry of National Defense for its blacklist of what it calls seditious books and its banning of soldiers from reading them.
"The popular struggle to overthrow the Korean dictatorships and establish democracy was an inspiration to the world. There are, of course, always those who fear freedom, and want to restore controls over thought and expression,'' Chomsky said in an email interview with the Seditious Books Club, an Internet based community. "It is unfortunate that the Defense Ministry joins them. Perhaps, for the sake of honesty, it should be renamed: 'Ministry of Defense against Freedom and Democracy,'' he told the Seditious Books Club.
The criticism came as the ministry announced 23 books last July that soldiers should not read. Those books were categorized into three categories ― pro-North Korea, anti-government and anti-U.S. or anti-capitalism, which it claimed could have a "bad influence'' on soldiers.
The "seditious'' books include two books by Chomsky ― "Year 501: The Conquest Continues'' and "What Uncle Sam Really Wants.''
Chomsky said he believes the blacklisting of his books can be rather an honor.
"My books were also banned in the Soviet Union, pre-Gorbachev, even technical work on linguistics. I regarded that as an honor, and the same is true when books of mine are banned by others who take Stalin as their guide,'' he said.
Many of the blacklisted books have ironically drawn public interest and made the best seller lists at large bookstores in recent months.
Chomsky encouraged the members of Seditious Books Club, saying "I am very pleased and encouraged to learn of your forthright and courageous stand against efforts to reverse the great achievements of the Korean people, and I wish you the greatest success in your very important work.''
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/10/113_33320.html
For more informations please read:
☞ Chomsky's interview with Seditious Books Club
☞ Military expands book blacklist (Hankyoreh, 07.31)
☞ Threatening Books and Their Popularity (GlobalVoices, 08.07)
Related link:
☞ Playground for Disturbing Book Readers/Seditious Books Club
From K. Times' latest edition:
Second Round of Candlelit Rallies Looming
Thousands of civic group members held a candlelit rally in downtown Seoul, Saturday for the first time in two months, hinting at a fresh round of rallies going forward.
Unlike past rallies against U.S. beef imports, they were protesting the conservative President Lee Myung-bak administration's key policies.
Some 3,000 members of online communities and civic groups, including the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, staged the demonstration at Cheonggye Plaza.
The candlelit protests against the resumption of American beef imports, which started in early May, stopped after the 100th rally on Aug. 15.
The groups plan to hold another gathering next Saturday and form a new civic coalition for democracy and public welfare. It is yet to be seen whether the rally will be the start of a second round of candlelit protests.
The participants denounced government policies, which they say oppress democracy and favor only the rich.
Demonstrators claimed the government's plan to ease rules on property taxes will only benefit the rich, while ordinary people are becoming impoverished amid the economic slump.
They also criticized the law enforcement authorities' investigation into candlelit demonstration organizers and bloggers who campaigned against conservative newspapers, calling their punishment "anti-democratic oppression.''
"We urge National Police Agency Commissioner General Eo Cheong-soo and Prosecutor General Lim Chae-jin to resign, as they infringed on the freedom of assembly,'' the groups said in a joint statement.
Lawmakers from progressive parties, including Democratic Labor Party leader Kang Ki-kab and New Progressive Party co-leader Shim Sang-jeong, joined the rally to denounce public officials and politicians who illegally pocketed subsidies meant for rice producers.
No clash took place between demonstrators and police.
In the meantime, police arrested the leader of an online community that led the anti-American beef import protests.
The leader, Baek Eun-jong, who took refuge at Jogye Temple in downtown Seoul to avoid arrest for organizing ``illegal and violent'' street rallies, was caught around 4:40 p.m. Saturday while sneaking out of the temple compound.
Baek reportedly attempted to participate in the candlelit rally nearby.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/10/117_32925.html
Related stuff:
☞ KCTU Report
Today's Korea Times (see the article below) reported that an overwhelming 84 percent of the S.K. police chiefs (very likely inspired by some new ideas of the LMB gov't/the ruling class!!??) said they preferred an aggressive crackdown on protesters..
What?? More aggressive crackdown??
That's not enough for them(??):
Police Chiefs Positive About Teargas Use
Nearly 80 percent of police stations across the nation believe they should be allowed to use teargas to quell protesters if necessary. This shows that many are negative about the ``no-teargas'' policy that has been kept over the last decade.
During a parliamentary audit of the National Police Agency, Rep. Won You-chol of the ruling Grand National Party said that 79 percent of 192 police chiefs responded that the government should permit the use of teargas against protesters. Of those favoring teargas use, 42 percent said, ``It's absolutely necessary.'' The lawmaker conducted the survey Oct. 1-6.
An overwhelming 84 percent said they preferred an aggressive crackdown on protesters to the current somewhat defensive mode.
"..the current law.. is.. so generous to protesters.."
About 60 percent of respondents were negative about the candlelight protests against the import of American beef in terms of both content and the way it was conducted. About 27 percent answered that they sympathized with why candlelight protesters demonstrated but did not agree with the way they protested.
Sixty-seven percent of the respondents said the current law on assembly and demonstration is so generous to protesters that riot police have great difficulty suppressing violent protesters. They said the government needs to revise the law to more effectively control protesters and ensure the safety of police officers.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/10/116_32431.html
Amnesty International published two days ago following press relaese (based on a detailed report):
South Korea: Improve policing practices during protests
South Korean police used excessive force in some instances against demonstrators protesting earlier this year against the government’s decision to resume beef imports from the US, Amnesty International concluded in a report released today.
The report - including interviews with protesters, human rights monitors and journalists - documents instances where the police misused crowd control equipment, such as water cannons, and arbitrarily arrested and detained individuals. The report also highlights a lack of adequate police training and police accountability.
“While we recognise that the riot police for the most part acted professionally and with restraint, there are worrying examples of how protesters and even onlookers, not involved directly in the protests, were ill-treated,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific Programme Director.
“Protesters, and in some instances even members of the police force, were needlessly subjected to violence because of inadequate training on the part of police. There should be an independent, thorough and impartial investigation into allegations of human rights violations by police officials, and those responsible should be held accountable.”
Amnesty International interviewed people involved in the protests who had sustained injuries mainly to the head or face after, they said, being kicked, punched or hit with a shield or baton by police or fired upon with water cannons.
The police reported that 489 riot police were also injured during the protests. There are no official figures for the number of civilians injured.
These included:
- Lee E, a 22-year-old university student, was beaten severely by riot police. One police official grabbed her by her hair and pushed her to the ground. He kicked her repeatedly in the head with his combat boots. Lee E managed to crawl underneath a bus for safety and when she came out, another official – or the same one – grabbed and pushed her to the ground again. This time she was hit many more times in the head. Lee E suffered a concussion and had to be hospitalised for three weeks. She vomited and suffered from dizzy spells.
- Kim C, a 31-year-old translator, told Amnesty International that a riot police official hit him in the eye with a shield. Kim C fainted from the impact and when he came to, several riot police were beating him with batons. Another official slammed his shield on Kim C’s head. He needed stitches for cuts on his head and eyelid, and an imprint of a baton on his back remained visible even after two weeks.
- Lee Hack-young, National General Director of the YMCA, was injured with 60 other protesters while peacefully lying down on the street as 200 riot police came charging through them, slamming their shields on their bodies and hitting them with batons. The police broke Lee Hack-young’s arm. He also suffered head injuries and was kept in hospital for two weeks for monitoring.
- Kim B, a 35-year-old technician, told Amnesty International that he was hit in the face when the police turned a water cannon on him and knocked him off his feet. Kim B suffered temporary blindness and his sight is still severely impaired.
Amnesty International calls on the South Korean government to review its current policing practices on the use of force, including the training and deployment of all police officials, in particular riot police. The organization also asks the authorities to consider phasing out the use of military conscripts.
“Instead of simply turning a blind eye to the violations that took place during these protests, the South Korean government must ensure that law enforcement officials, including riot police, are adequately trained, instructed and equipped with the skills necessary to police difficult and potentially violent protests, including training on relevant international human rights standards," said Sam Zarifi.
Background
The candlelight protests in central Seoul against the resumption of US beef imports due to fears of BSE or ‘mad cow disease’ began on 2 May 2008 and continued almost daily for more than two months. Tens of thousands of people from all walks of life attended the demonstrations, with at least 100,000 on 10 June, the 21st anniversary of South Korea’s pro-democracy movement. The protesters voiced their discontent not only with the US beef trade issue, but with a broad range of President Lee Myung-bak’s other policies.
The majority of the protesters were peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, which are enshrined in South Korea’s constitution, as well as international human rights law. However, various provisions under South Korean law limit the right to demonstrate and protesters continued to defy government calls to disperse.
The protests were for the most part peaceful and given their size and duration, both the protesters and the police showed notable organization and restraint. However, there were sporadic incidents of violence, as riot police and protesters clashed. The two main flashpoints of violence occurred on 31 May/1 June, when the police first used water cannons and fire extinguishers, and 28/29 June, the weekend following the government’s announcement that US beef imports would resume.
(The Korean version of the text you can read here.)
The complete English report (51 pages!!) you can read here:
☞ Policing the Candlelight Protests in S.K.
Related articles:
☞ Amnesty Int’l Takes Side With Candlelit Protesters (K. Times, 10.7)
☞ 국제앰네스티 "한국경찰, 촛불집회 과도한 무력사용" (VoP, 10.6)
☞ AI weighs in on the candlelight protests (Hankyoreh)
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