Members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union, the Migrant Workers' Union, the Migrant Workers' Discrimination Abolition Network and the Migrant Workers' Equality Solidarity gather at Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Sunday to hold the second national joint action rally for migrant workers' struggle, calling for freedom of workplace transfer, protection of basic labor rights and the right to unionize. [Newsis]
Members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union, the Migrant Workers' Union, the Migrant Workers' Discrimination Abolition Network and the Migrant Workers' Equality Solidarity gather at Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on Sunday to hold the second national joint action rally for migrant workers' struggle, calling for freedom of workplace transfer, protection of basic labor rights and the right to unionize. [Newsis]

A large rally demanding better treatment and protection of basic rights for foreign migrant workers was held Sunday in the heart of Seoul.

The Korean Metal Workers' Union, the Migrant Workers' Union and other labor groups convened the "Second National Joint Action Rally for Migrant Workers' Struggle" near Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at around 2 p.m. Sunday. Police informally estimated attendance at about 250 people.

Braving steady rain in ponchos, participants held pickets reading "Scrap the bad contract" and "Win the right to unionize," voicing grievances over job insecurity at contract renewal, wage discrimination and unfair treatment of migrant workers.

Kim Hyeong-su, vice chairman of the Korean Metal Workers' Union, said in his opening address that Saturday had marked the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day, when Korea reclaimed its sovereignty. "It makes me ask whether Korea — a country that exploits the citizens of other nations — has any standing to criticize Japanese imperialism," he said.

The rally was driven in particular by a backlash against HD Hyundai Heavy's proposed overhaul of the wage structure for its migrant workers.

In May, HD Hyundai Heavy issued revised employment contracts to 1,602 migrant workers it directly employs on E-7-3 visas. The new contracts cut existing base pay and fixed allowances by hundreds of thousands of won while introducing a new "fixed overtime allowance" worth about 400,000 won ($283) per month, premised on 30 hours of overtime each month.

Although the total monthly payout — including allowances — would rise by roughly 200,000 won compared with before, the reduction in base pay and what workers described as a de facto mandatory overtime clause fueled a growing backlash. In addition, a performance-based differential pay scheme was introduced, and the meal subsidy previously deducted from wages was replaced with three free meals a day.

As worker opposition intensified, the company moved to address some grievances — including retroactively refunding meal costs that had been withheld — but has maintained the core direction of the wage restructuring, which lowers base pay.

After the Bosingak rally, participants marched toward Cheong Wa Dae, formally calling for freedom to change workplaces, withdrawal of the revised contracts, guaranteed re-employment and equal protection of basic labor rights for all migrant workers.


sunpine@heraldcorp.com