Asian Workers News_English_Jan. 2013

ASIAN WORKERS NEWS February 3, 2013

NO. 309

[AWN FOCUS]

<The Second Migrant Policy> : Concern about the Stronger Crackdown on Undocumented Migrants

ASIAN WORKERS NEWS

I want to work continuously in Korea

Page

2

February 3, 2013

Minu's Story

and the Immigration office hurriedly deported him to Mongolia despite that his parents live in Korea

Kim Min-jeong (Asia Chang*)

and human rights groups protested. His mom and

*Center for Migrants' rights in Gunpo-si, Kyounggi-do

teacher could do nothing but to say goodbye to him outside the bus window.

At this moment, Minu lives at his aunt's house in Mongolia. He is not good in Mongolian because he lived in Korea before going to elementary school.

And

he

does

not

feel

Mongolia

as

his

own

homeland. Now he is at the age of going to university, but he can not expect positively because he is not good at speaking in Mongolian. Still, he studies all night. Though his Mongolian proficiency is that of an elementary school student, he has no other choice for his future.

In Korea at least 7,000 up to 15,000 are Photo from Hankyoreh

Minu was a first grade high school student who

estimated

as

migrant

kids

under

undocumented

status

like

Minu.

19

who

The

have

Korean

was born in Mongolia but spoke in Korean better

government ratified the UN Convention on the Rights

than in Mongolian because he lived in Korea for ten

of

years.

discriminated

On

October

1,

2012

a

very

sad

thing

the

Child

which and

allows

to

be

a

child

guaranteed

not his

to

be

rights

happened to him. Minu was walking down a street

regardless of his parent's status. However, it has not

with his Mongolian friends in Seoul when they hit

been abided by. The government is aware of the

shoulders of Korean high school students passing by.

existence of undocumented migrant children, though,

A word â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mongol Saekkiâ&#x20AC;? triggered a fight and he

he has not prepared any legal grounds for these

was brought to a police station.

children's rights to be practically guaranteed in Korea.

Korean students testified that Minu was not

The police sent Minu to the Immigration office

engaged in fighting. However, he was forced to stay

only for the reason that he is undocumented even

in the police station until other Mongolian friends

though he is a minor. The Office did not consider

who ran away come.

Police held a minor without a

on how their action would affect a minor's life

reason. Police promised Minu that they would send

when they deported him. It is not late yet. Since

him home if he helps them to interpret for his

Minu's case is a clear example of invading a

friends even though police knew that he is an

minor's human rights, he should be returned to

'undocumented

what

Korea and go to school again. And the government

police said. However, the next morning police sent

should prepare a measure to prevent any similar

him to an Immigration office even though it was

case in the future. AWN

immigrant'.

And

he

trusted

clear that he did not illegally work by reason of his undocumented status despite he is a minor.

He was regretful for not listening to his mom to come back home early. He cried in a bus to the Immigration office wishing the bus was bound for home. The Immigration office grilled him about signing documents, reading

the

and

he

contents.

signed

his

Compulsory

signature

without

deportation

and

protection orders were given to him. Therefore, he was sent to a foreigner detention center like a prison,

Photo from News1

ASIAN WORKERS NEWS

Information

Counseling

Busan Foreign W orkers Support Center(BFC) opened!

W e provides following services to migrant workers.

Counseling Labor, Medical right, Sojourn right, Family issues, Etc

Necessary Information Education program Korean language, Computer, Labor standard law etc

Cultural programs Community festivals Multi-cultural Library Office hours Monday~Friday am9:00~pm6:00 Sunday am9:00~pm6:00

※ Calculation of the average wage for a day ※

Tel. 051-304-0900 Fax. 051-304-8585 http://www.bfwc.or.kr E-mail: bfc@ bfwc.or.kr

ASIAN WORKERS NEWS <The Basic Labor Rights of Migrant W orkers> (2012)

Editor Reporters Translators Proof readers Layout Tel / Fax E-mail Homepage Address

T

*Please contact us if you want to purchase it. (Tel. 051-802-3438) *Price : 3,000 won

Published by SOMI

Kim So-ryoung Kim So-ryoung, Lim A-yeong, Danny R Guerra, Toe Thu Ya Kim Hoe-ran, Park Kyung-wun, Lee Dong-hun Tess Manangan Kim So-ryoung

051-802-3438 / 051-803-9630 somi3438@hanmail.net http://fwr.jinbo.net 4F 193-9 Jeonpo-2 dong, Jingu, Busan, Korea (Postal Code 614-865)

Solidarity with Migrants

(사)이주민과 함께