"In one region alone, making 2 billion won can result in a fine of several tens of millions of won if caught. With such a profit, wouldn't anyone become a broker? And with overflowing demand, brokers are running rampant." (Ko Gibok, head of 1218forAll)
The reason brokers do not disappear from the foreign seasonal worker system is due to a trifecta of high demand for foreign workers from farms, labor shortages in local governments, and a structure that allows brokers to reap excessive profits. Brokers are cited as major causes of forced labor issues for foreign workers, exploiting vulnerabilities, imposing movement restrictions, and committing fraud.
Foreigners entering Korea as seasonal workers often borrow initial expenses such as visa issuance fees, airfare, and health examination costs from brokers and repay them while working in Korea, during which brokers profit excessively. For example, a one-way ticket from Incheon to Manila, Philippines, can be purchased for around 100,000 won, but brokers charge 300,000 won. If there are 1,000 seasonal workers, that equates to earning 2 billion won just from airfare.
The broker suspected of extorting approximately 2 billion won from 1,017 Filipino seasonal workers who worked in Yanggu County, Gangwon Province, in 2023 and 2024 set the visa extension fee at about 700,000 won. In reality, there is no fee for seasonal workers to extend their visas. Calculating that they charged 700,000 won each from 1,000 individuals amounts to an unjust gain of 700 million won.
Local governments cannot contact brokers when receiving foreign seasonal workers. According to the Ministry of Justice's operational guidelines, any act of receiving or giving tangible or intangible compensation while delegating work such as recruiting or sending workers is considered a serious violation.
However, many local governments are relying on brokers for foreign worker management due to labor shortages. A representative from a migrant worker organization noted, "Most local government officials juggle additional responsibilities for seasonal worker operations while doing other work. Some officials often view brokers as agencies that assist with their tasks, which is an aspect that brokers exploit."
Brokers increase their influence over foreign workers while assisting with the work of local governments, during which illegal activities targeting foreign workers occur.
The low level of punishment is also a reason why brokers are rampant. So far, seasonal worker brokers have faced punishment for violating the labor standards law on intermediate exploitation. They can face up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won. However, with the revision of the Immigration Control Act last July, the punishment level for brokers will be reduced to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won starting next year.
Some brokers are involved in all processes of recruiting, selecting, training, and sending foreign workers while engaging in human trafficking, yet they evade the law cleverly. Two Filipinos who worked as seasonal workers in Haenam in January last year filed a complaint with the Jeonnam Police Agency, alleging that broker Mr. B exploited their wages and confiscated their passports. The National Human Rights Commission also confirmed human trafficking and urged the government and local governments to improve the system.
However, the police declared there was "no basis for human trafficking" and dismissed the charges, citing that the broker was an organization that signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine local government. This broker has reportedly moved to areas such as Buyeo, Anseong, and Goesan in response to increased enforcement in the Jeonnam region.
The number of foreign seasonal workers continues to increase. This poses a growing market for brokers. In the agricultural sector, the number of foreign seasonal laborers has more than doubled from around 35,000 in 2023 to approximately 86,000 this year. The invitation methods have also increased, including local government memorandums of understanding, family invitations of marriage immigrants, and invitations of parents of international students.
Go, the representative, stated, "Contracts for seasonal workers should be signed between countries to block broker involvement. Punishment regulations should also be strengthened to a structure that leads to actual imprisonment."
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