Government inspects the human rights status of foreign seasonal workers in the fishing industry

Approximately 160 fishing shops will be hired for three weeks from the 9th to the 27th.

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Han Joo-hong = The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Justice announced on the 8th that they will inspect the human rights conditions in the second half of the year at about 160 fishing establishments that employ foreign seasonal workers in the fishing industry from the 9th to the 27th.

The five cities and counties where suspicions of human rights violations have been raised or where seasonal workers are allocated on a large scale are jointly inspected by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Justice, civic groups, and local governments.

The remaining 22 cities and counties are subject to self-inspection by the relevant local governments.

Key inspection items include compliance with the standard employment contract, provision of appropriate accommodation for the winter, mandatory insurance subscription, and non-payment of wages.

Through interviews with workers, we also check for cases of improper storage of passports and bankbooks, payment of wages, and the ability to freely communicate and move with the outside world.

If problems such as non-compliance with employment contracts or inadequate accommodation are identified, corrective action is requested through the local government.

If the measures are not implemented even after this, penalty points may be imposed on the relevant city or county in accordance with the Ministry of Justice guidelines, and the assignment of foreign seasonal workers may be restricted.