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Korea: KCTU Migrant Workers Union Under Attack

Posted to the IUF website 15-Jan-2004

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Korea's Equality Trade Union, Migrant's Branch (ETU-MB), affiliated to the national center KCTU, has come under vicious government attack as it defends migrant workers against repression and mass deportations. The ETU-MB, the only national union for Korean migrant workers, opposes the ongoing government operation to deport some 120,000 undocumented workers (two-thirds of the migrant work force) and has therefore come under increasing attack from immigration and riot police. Union members demonstrating in support of migrant workers' rights been physically assaulted, and the government has threatened to arrest and deport union leaders sitting in at Seoul's Myongdong cathedral since November last year.

By highlighting - and organizing around - the urgent issue of equality of rights for all workers, the ETU-MB and KCTU have drawn the full brunt of government repression. They are now requesting international support. You can support their struggle by signing on to the labourstart online petition to the Korean government available here.