Foreign Laborers Plan to Set Up a Labor Union

On May 3, 15 foreign laborers who have worked for industries in the metropolitan area held a press conference over the foundation of a labor union for immigrant laborers in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon at an auditorium on the first floor of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. They cried out a slogan saying, “Forming a labor union should be rapidly approved.” These people held a general meeting over the establishment of a labor union there on April 24 and are scheduled to submit an application for permission to form a labor union to the Ministry of Labor soon. However, since most members of the union are illegal residents, it seems unlikely that the union will be approved as a legal labor union.

Young-Han Jeon scoopjyh@donga.com