Wage, safety violations against migrant workers uncovered in South Jeolla Province

An oyster farm in South Jeolla Province / Courtesy of South Jeolla Provincial Authorities

A Filipino seasonal employee was paid simply 235,000 gained ($155) after 18 days of 12-hour shifts at an oyster farm in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, in a case elevating issues of “modern-day slavery.”

The Ministry of Employment and Labor stated Wednesday that 26 overseas employees at two oyster farms have been collectively owed 31.7 million gained ($20,922) in unpaid wages. Two unlawful brokers have been additionally discovered to have siphoned off about 7 million gained ($4,636) from employees.

The findings comply with a particular labor inspection launched after the South Jeolla Migrant Staff’ Rights Community alleged wage exploitation and compelled labor at these two websites.

Based on the group, a 28-year-old Filipino lady entered Korea in November on an E-8 seasonal work visa. Though her contract assured 2.09 million gained ($1,379) a month, she was as a substitute paid by output, incomes 3,000 gained ($1.98) per kilogram of oysters. She was additionally despatched to work at a citron farm on days off, regardless of this not being a part of her contract. The employer allegedly threatened to ship her again to the Philippines if she didn’t meet manufacturing targets.

Working from 3 a.m. for greater than 12 hours a day, she obtained about 235,000 gained ($155) in her first month (18 days), after 310,000 gained ($205) was deducted for lodging and meals.

Authorities stated the 2 brokers, who had no authorized authority to handle employees, monitored each day output and saved watch to forestall employees from leaving.

The migrant employees’ rights group filed a criticism with the Yeosu department of the Gwangju Regional Employment and Labor Workplace in opposition to two employers and brokers on expenses together with human trafficking and minimal wage violations. Upon receiving the case, the labor ministry launched an investigation alongside a office inspection.

A number of victims discovered

The inspection discovered extra victims underneath comparable wage violations. A complete of 31.7 million gained ($20,922) in unpaid wages was confirmed for 26 overseas seasonal employees. This included unpaid extra time of 16.5 million gained ($10,934) and evening work allowances of 11 million gained ($7,289), in addition to 4.2 million gained ($2,783) in wages that fell under the authorized minimal.

The ministry decided that the employees have been paid by means of brokers, in violation of the “direct fee” precept. The 2 brokers have been discovered to have deducted a hard and fast month-to-month quantity — underneath the pretext of lodging and different prices — and to have despatched employees to jobs not lined by their contracts, siphoning off a complete of seven million gained ($4,636). One dealer advised investigators he took 200,000 gained ($133) per employee, whereas the opposite denied the allegations.

The farms have been additionally discovered to have violated a number of labor and security laws, together with failing to supply or specify working circumstances and never putting in security railings. Authorities have booked the employers and brokers and are persevering with their investigation. Administrative fines totaling 6.3 million gained ($4,172) have been imposed for failing to maintain wage ledgers and difficulty pay statements.

Individually, the ministry stated it carried out preemptive inspections of 5 farms and fisheries within the Goheung space using overseas seasonal employees, and located labor regulation violations in any respect 5 websites. Wage arrears totaling 23.2 million gained ($15,374), together with unpaid allowances and minimal wage violations, have been additionally uncovered. One office was discovered to have paid wages by means of a dealer.

The federal government stated it’s going to function a particular reporting interval by means of the tip of Could, citing issues that extra hidden circumstances of migrant employee abuse might exist. Current incidents embrace a case in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, through which a plating firm proprietor injured a overseas employee by firing an air gun.

President Lee Jae Myung attends a townhall assembly to gather opinions on his insurance policies from residents in Gwangju and South Jeolla Province on the Nationwide Asian Tradition Middle in Gwangju, June 25, 2025. Courtesy of Presidential Workplace

President Lee Jae Myung has stated violence and discrimination in opposition to migrant employees are “severe crimes that can’t be tolerated,” and ordered a agency response.

This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Occasions, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Occasions.