CINA

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.

• We 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.

   

• We feel urgency to provide education and training for workers planning to migrate to South Korea through the Employment Permit System

   

• We organize international events such as International Migrants Day – December 18, to protect the migrant workers right

   

• We agree to form an organization for returned ETUMB and MTU members to strength the communication and mobilization in Bangladesh and other countries.

   

• We agree to support to strengthen the GEFONT Migrants committee and encourage to organize return migrants widely in Nepal.

   

• We have reaffirmed 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 legalization.

   

• We agree to organize different protest in front of the South Korean embassy in different countries to make known our demands directly to the South Korean government.

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.

• Stop the Targeted crackdown and Repression against MTU!
• Stop Crackdown and Legalize all Undocumented Migrant Workers!  
• Recognize MTU's Legal Union Status!

   

The participants of the International Conference on Networking

between Countries of Origin and Migrant Workers in South Korea

Kathmandu, 14^th June, 2008