By REBENSON "REEVE" RACAÑA

Sulyapinoy

Gangnam, Seoul - The Philippine embassy and Korean Labor Education Institute (KLEI) in a joint program conducted the two-day seminar on Korean Labor Laws and Occupational Safety and Health to train the 75 participants from 25 Filipino communities.

Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) Labor Attaché Delmer Cruz welcomed the participants and the Korean resource speakers on the first day of the seminar and reminded the participants of their role as trainers of the said topics to their respective organization.

Resource Speaker Yi Ran-joo from Solidarity for Asian Human Rights and Culture (SOL) discussed about Understanding Labor Migration, Process of Migration, Difficulties with Reintegration and the things to do for Migrant Workers.

Statistics shows that there are a total of 1.75 billion people who are into labor migration; 600,000 of whom are in South Korea.

Also, Resource Speaker Lee Gong-hee from the Korean Labor Education Institute

(KLEI), who is also a professor of Dankook University, explained some labor laws from his book entitled "Easy Korean Labor Law".

He gave more emphasis on the wages computation and other labor-related laws that mostly affect the migrant workers in South Korea.

On the other hand, the second part of the two-day seminar focused on occupational safety and health of the workers, updates on Employment Permit System, and the different insurances of the migrant workers.

Yim Young-hoon of the Korea Occupational Safety and Heath Agency (KOSHA) introduced the agency and lectured on Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) that gives protection to the safety and health of the workers.

According to studies, 3,950 injured cases of immigrant workers were recorded in 2007 which increased from 3,406 in 2006. 76% of all occupational injuries and illness occurred in small-sized enterprises (less than 50 workers) and 60% of all occupational injuries occurred among newly recruited workers. Also, the five major types of accidents are crushing, slip or trip, falls, impact and struck by flying objects.

In addition, he discussed some health-related issues like the prohibition of asbestos in 2009, job stress as an emerging issue and workers are protected by the provision of Article 5 of OSH Act which imposes new duties for employers to take measure for the prevention of health problems caused by stress.

And South Korea will adopt Globally Harmonized System (GHS) to classify and label chemicals, which commonly harm the health of the workers, in July this year.

KOSHA has distributed 78,500 copies of books on Safety Guidelines for foreign workers to both employers and workers. Also he invited the participants to attend the 18th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work – A Global Forum for Prevention on June 29-July 2 at Coex Convention Center, Seoul, South Korea by which the agency is a co-organizer.

More so, Yoo Sung-gyu from the Association for Migrants Worker’s Human Rights gave the brief history of the Employment Permit System (EPS) and discussed the different insurances of the workers as their benefits during and after employment contract such as Departure Guarantee Insurance, Return Cost Insurance, National

Health Insurance, and Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance.

Another raised issue was the National Health Insurance for the undocumented migrant workers who are not covered by its program.

However, Lee Kyung-sook of the Joint Committee for Migrant Workers in Korea (JCMK) who served as the interpreter between the Filipino participants and Korean resource speakers provided www.mumk.org, the website of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for medical insurance and benefits of the undocumented migrant workers.

KLEI President Dr. Sun Hang-sung mentioned of their appreciation of the OFWs who have been consistent labor partners of South Korea, "Before we have problems on labor and we’re happy for you who do the work, thus, you are a big help to the Korean economy and we need to take care of you and in doing so we have to conduct this seminar for you to be safe as you enjoy your stay here in South Korea".

Likewise, Philippine Ambassador to South Korea, His Excellency Luis Cruz thanked KLEI for the accommodation, facilities, knowledge, and for opening their hearts to all migrant workers most especially the OFWs.

"We hope that you’ll pursue what you’ve learned although you need ample time to study these laws.

Most importantly, the truth will make you free and this knowledge provides opportunities to assert your rights. You have a great obligation as foreign workers to South Korea and the same with your fellow OFWs and be proud as you show the world who Filipino workers are," Ambassador Cruz said.