Government investigation finds foreign workers on Korean vessels were abused

Posted on : 2012-06-11 15:54 KST Modified on : 2012-06-11 15:54 KST
Special team’s findings appear consistent with Hankyoreh investigation
 one of the six petitioners who sued the Sajo Oyang fishing company over a range of worker abuses
one of the six petitioners who sued the Sajo Oyang fishing company over a range of worker abuses

By Noh Hyun-woong, staff reporter

A joint investigation team from the Korean government has recently finished making inquiries allegations that foreign workers on South Korean deep sea fishing vessels operating in waters off New Zealand’s coast have suffered violence and unfair labor practices. The issue was first brought to public attention through reporting by Hankyoreh 21 magazine.

The investigation team, jointly headed by high-ranking civil servants from the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, conducted an on-site investigation from May 27 to June 2. The team stated on June 10 that it had been confirmed that Indonesian crews had been repeatedly assaulted by four Korean officers. The team plans to request an investigation of the Koreans after booking them on suspicion of assault and other charges.

The investigation team also claimed to have confirmed that some firms were denying foreign workers their severance pay and paid vacation, which should be guaranteed by Korea’s Seamen’s Law. It was considering seeking criminal punishment regarding these charges, it said. Regarding the guaranteeing of a minimum wage, the team plans to carry out further investigations due to differences of opinion between the crews and the companies involved. On June 13, the team will meet two Indonesian crews visiting Korea on the invitation of a Korean civic group; it will also visit Indonesia some time this month to conduct further investigations.

Last year, 32 Indonesian crews from Sajo Oyang-affiliated deep-sea fishing vessel “Oyang 75,” which had been fishing in an exclusive economic zone near New Zealand, walked off the ship en-masse to New Zealand. They claimed that they had experienced sexual harassment, violence and withheld wages at the hands of Koreans. The New Zealand government launched its own investigation and released a report in March this year that backed up the workers’ claims.

Civic groups including the Korean House for International Solidarity petitioned Korea’s National Human Rights Commission regarding the issue; the commission rejected their petition in April on grounds of insufficient evidence, but did advise that the Korean government should reinvestigate the case. Hankyoreh 21 had earlier obtained a copy of the New Zealand government report and brought the issue of human rights abuses by Korean sailors to public attention.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

 

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