The Ministry of Employment and Labor has determined that actions such as transporting foreign workers bound with bricks by forklift constitute workplace harassment. Previously, controversy arose after it was reported that a foreign worker had experienced such treatment at a brick manufacturing establishment in Naju, South Jeolla Province.
On the 10th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the results of its labor inspection regarding the harassment of foreign workers at a brick manufacturing establishment in Naju, South Jeolla Province.
Earlier, it was revealed that a 31-year-old Sri Lankan national, referred to as A, who works at a brick production factory in Naju, was bound to cargo and harassed by fellow workers earlier this month. He is reported to have sought assistance from labor organizations due to repeated group harassment.
Subsequently, on July 24, the Ministry of Employment and Labor deployed 12 labor inspectors to conduct a comprehensive labor inspection of the business site.
In the results of this inspection, the Ministry of Employment and Labor confirmed that the act of binding foreign workers and using physical force corresponds to 'assault' and 'workplace harassment.' The perpetrator has been charged with violations of the Labor Standards Act, and fines were imposed for the acts of workplace harassment.
Additionally, the Ministry of Employment and Labor uncovered wage arrears at the business site where workplace harassment occurred. It was found that the establishment had failed to pay a total of 29 million won in legal allowances to 21 individuals, including 8 foreign workers, both current and former employees.
Moreover, the Ministry of Employment and Labor detected a total of 12 legal violations, including long working hours and unspecified working conditions.
Minister Kim Young-hoon said, 'In the future, we will regularly operate a Foreign Labor Human Rights Reporting and Counseling Day, where labor inspectors will participate, to ensure that we remain aware of the difficulties faced by foreign workers.'