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The Seoul·Gyeonggi·Incheon Migrant Workers Trade Union (MTU) took off on 24th April in the conference room of KCTU, in the presence of its 100 members. The MTU stated that its aim is “To stop crack down, to improve working conditions of migrant workers, to attain rights and to gain legalization, so as to be able to work freely”.
This is not the first time that migrant workers have formed a trade union. Since 2002, migrant workers had been active through the Migrant Workers Branch of Equality Trade Union (ETU), and they are also active as members of the trade union at Seongseo Industrial Complex in Daegu. ETU Migrant Workers Branch led the “Struggle Committee to Stop Enforced Deportation and to Attain Complete Legalization of Non-registered Migrant Workers” in 2003 that started a sit-in protest in Myeongdong Cathedral. The protest continued for 381 days. The MTU is, in fact, the fruit of the Myeongdong Cathedral struggle.
When the Myeongdong Cathedral struggle ended, Seoul, Gyeonggi and Incheon representatives of ETU Migrant Workers Branch met several times to prepare the establishment of an independent migrant workers trade union. During these meetings, the representatives resolved to aim towards a nationwide trade union, however, they decided to start off in Seoul and surrounding areas. The leaders resolved to build an independent trade union that will struggle against imminent challenges such as crack down and deportation, and strengthen the foundation on which to build a nationwide union.
The government had pushed forth its Employment Permit System without finding any substantial solution to the problem of non-documented migrant workers, and is consistent in its stance of using crack down and forced deportation. Hence, the significance of this trade union is immense considering these circumstances. After the Employment Permit System was adopted, the number of non-documented migrant workers rose to more than 200,000, and furthermore, migrant workers still have to face even severer conditions such as low wages, delayed wages, deterioration of working conditions and constant lay-offs.
The MTU plans to struggle for labour rights on the shopfloor, focusing on legalization of non-registered migrant workers. It will also actively fight for legislation of a Labour Permit System instead of the existing Employment Permit System.
We call upon workers’ organizations or trade unions fighting for workers rights all around the world to show solidarity and support to the migrant workers trade union in Korea. In addition, we ask organizations and unions to send us data and information about migrant workers’ unions in different countries ? establishment procedure, organizational structure, operation method etc..
Please visit our website( http://migrant.nodong.net/ver2) and leave your supporting messages or send it to the following email address, migrant@jinbo.net
In Solidarity,
Anwar
President
Seoul·Gyeonggi·Incheon Migrant Workers Trade Union (MTU)
Tel : +82-2-2285-6068 Fax : +82-2-2269-6166
E-mail : migrant@jinbo.net
For Further Information, Please contact us.
Lee Changgeun
International Director
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
Tel.: +82-2-2670-9234 Fax: +82-2-2635-1134
E-mail: inter@kctu.org Web-site : http://kctu.org
2nd Fl. Daeyoung Bld., 139 Youngdeungpo-2-ga, Youngdeungpo-ku, Seoul 150-032 Korea
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