Defend Korean Migrant Workers' Union!

Posted to the IUF website 23-May-2005

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Unions in Korea are calling for international solidarity with the recently formed Migrant's Trade Union (MTU), affiliated to the KCTU, which has become the target of government repression. Migrant workers in Korea have become increasingly active in organizing to oppose exploitation on the job and harsh immigration policies. These became even tougher with the introduction in August 2004 of new legislation restricting migrant workers to three years' employment with a single employer. Migrant workers, with growing support from the trade unions, organized to oppose this legislation, gaining in both visibility and confidence. The MTU was founded on April 24 this year through the merger of the Equality Trade Union - Migrants Branch with other migrant worker organizations fighting against discrimination, workplace abuses and anti-immigrant government policies.


May 3: MTU President Anwar Hossain announces at a press conference that the union intends to organize Korea's 400,000 migrant workers into a single national union. Ten days later he was arrested and remains in detention.

The government responded to the union's application to register the union with the Labour Ministry by announcing that migrants had no right to union recognition, organization or collective bargaining, and that it would therefore reject the registration application. On May 14, MTU President Anwar Hossain, a Bangladeshi by birth, was forcibly arrested by over 30 policeman while on his way home. The government says he has being held solely for having overstayed his visa. Shortly after his arrest, police attempted to break into the union's office and arrest the acting president. Migrant workers are also faced with regular police sweeps to arrest and forcibly deport them as soon as their permits have lapsed.

ILO Conventions on fundamental rights apply to all workers regardless of their legal status as residents. Ruthless exploitation of migrant workers has become a pillar of the global economy. The denial of rights to migrants, including the denial of basic trade union rights, weakens worker rights everywhere. We therefore ask you to send messages to the government of Korea, calling for the release of MTU President Anwar Hossain, an end to government repression of the MTU and Korean migrant workers generally, and recognition of the union's right to collectively represent and negotiate on behalf of migrant workers at the workplace.

To send a message to the President of Korea click here. Copies will be automatically sent to the IUF secretariat and passed on to our members in Korea.

We thank you in advance for your solidarity and support.