The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has banned the import of salt produced at the Tae-pyeong Salt Farm in Jeonnam Shin-an, stating it was made through forced labor. As the agency intensifies its investigation into forced labor practices in Asia, including Korea, concerns are growing that a 'second Tae-pyeong Salt Farm' could emerge.
CBP can issue a Withhold Release Order (WRO) to withhold products from countries found to violate 11 indicators of forced labor as defined by the International Labour Organization (ILO). There are many cases classified as forced labor in small and medium-sized corporations or in agriculture and aquaculture sectors where foreign workers are prevalent. If CBP identifies these issues, it could block the importation of the respective products and agricultural goods into the U.S. Products are seized immediately upon arrival in the U.S. if a WRO is issued.
According to the government and migrant worker human rights organizations on the 13th, CBP recently launched a portal for reporting forced labor cases online and conducted online training on how to use the portal targeting key migrant worker organizations in Asia, including Korea. In an email sent to migrant worker organizations, CBP noted, 'The general public can submit all allegations of forced labor through the new portal.'
If CBP confirms violations of the 11 indicators of forced labor defined by the International Labour Organization, including exploitation of vulnerabilities, fraud, movement restrictions, confiscation of identification, harsh living and working conditions, threats and intimidation, physical violence, debt bondage, wage withholding, excessive overtime, and isolation, it can prohibit the import of the respective products. Ten violations were found at the Tae-pyeong Salt Farm, excluding the isolation factor.
The issue is that allegations of forced labor can easily be found in corporations or agricultural and aquacultural sectors with many foreign workers. Some farms confiscate passports to prevent foreign workers from leaving, or they exploit laws to make workers work 11 hours a day without overtime pay. There are also farms and fishing boats that do not pay wages or require six people to live in one room.
In fact, an investigation of 2,539 seasonal workers across 19 cities and counties in Jeollado revealed that 59 workers were automatically transferring part of their wages to agents under the guise of airline and visa fees, 6 experienced wage arrears, and 23 had their passports and bank books confiscated, restricting their movement. The Philippine government has suspended the dispatch of seasonal workers last year, citing human rights violations and wage exploitation in Korea.
Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department contacted human rights groups to investigate cases of forced labor in Korea. Recently, a video released by human rights organizations showed Korean workers at a brick manufacturing plant in Naju, Jeonnam, harassing a Sri Lankan national foreign worker by lifting him with a forklift. CBP could raise issues regarding physical violence.
The issue of foreign seasonal workers, deemed essential in rural and fishing regions, is also serious. The U.S. State Department pointed out excessive fees charged by brokers in last year's 'Trafficking in Persons Report' concerning seasonal workers.
The representative of the Migrant Rights Culture Center for All, Kim Gi-bok, said, 'It seems to be the first time the U.S. government has directly emailed human rights activists to encourage reporting. The government should not take such movements by the U.S. lightly.'
☞ U.S. CBP is
a U.S. government agency that manages and prevents illegal goods, illegal immigration, terrorism, and other threats at over 300 ports of entry such as borders and ports. CBP, which has the authority to enact WROs, is preventing the importation of products produced under forced labor or in vulnerable conditions. It plays a significant role in reinforcing ethical standards within the global supply chain.
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