Giving Workers a Chance

Justice for Dien
The Migrant Workers Centre assists a Vietnamese worker

In this interview, Fr. Cunningham discusses his work with migrant workers in Korea.

Where do the migrant workers come from?
They come from many continents, including South America, but most come from Southeast Asia. They are from Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Nepal and quite a number are from Nigeria.

What triggered your interest in caring for migrant workers?
When I came here as a student in 1991, I got involved during weekends through the migrant workers office in Anyang, about an hour from Seoul. The office had requested the Columbans for help, and I was asked to go.

Do migrant workers-gain entry into Korea easily?
There are stories of middlemen bringing people in, bypassing immigration procedures and taking the workers directly to their place of work. This leaves workers vulnerable because they fall into the undocumented category. Personally, I haven't met any workers who have entered the - country through this kind of brokerage. Most come in as part of the "Industrial Trainee Program." The majority of migrant workers come in as trainees but 70 percent run away from their workplaces. The working conditions are harsh and-the pay is poor. They learn there is a lot more money to be made in other jobs. For the past several years there has been a campaign to abolish Korea's "Industrial; Trainee Program", because it is used as a cover to get cheap foreign labor. The campaign is organized by a migrant workers' committee in conjunction with labor interests here to abolish the program, because they view it as a modern form of slavery. It is cheap labor at great cost to the worker. The campaign wants workers recognized. For who they are and given just treatment, pay and working conditions.

Why do foreign workers visit the Migrant Workers' counseling Service office in Anyang?
Probably 90 percent of the cases we deal with have to do with unpaid salaries. We contact the employers to hear their side of the story. Often, they have a reason for not paying a wage as when a worker runs away from a company without giving due notice. However, in most cases, the fault does lie with the employer. If we are unable to negotiate a settlement with the employer, we go to the Labor Court. Each area has its own Labor Court where we can file a complaint and look for arbitration on whatever matter needs to be settled.

How are the living conditions for the workers?
Most factories have their own dormitories, which are pre-fabricated containers placed within the factory compound. Migrant workers live and work in poor conditions. In summer, they put up with very high temperatures and in winter, the freezing cold. - We visit factories often and from time to time we are invited to sample the cuisine of the various nationalities.

What is meant by "amnesty" for illegal workers- in Korea?
There have been "amnesty" periods during the year when Illegal" workers can leave the country without being-fined. Actually the more politically -correct way of referring to them is "undocumented workers". For every month they overstay their visa, there is a hefty fine and they can run up a sizable debt easily. Every now and then, the government cracks down to try to get some of them to go home. -The amnesty is a sort of carrot to cut back on numbers of illegal workers. As World Cup soccer in Korea approached, the government did not want to be portrayed as harboring an undocumented workforce.

What connection is there between migrant ministry and the proclamation of the Gospel?
I feel very fulfilled in the work I am doing. As a foreigner in Korea, I am very conscious of the need to welcome the stranger, and the Gospel calls on us to do that. I feel we Christians are called to reach out to the foreigner and to welcome him or her wholeheartedly. It's not a simple challenge, and there are a lot of legal and political issues surrounding it. As a missionary, I feel that is what I am called to do, and I feel we missionaries are in a privileged position and ideally situated to welcome the stranger, given the fact that missionaries cross boundaries of culture and language.