Regarding the case of a company head accused of firing an air gun at the anal area of a Thai employee and injuring internal organs, Ahn Chang-ho, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), issued a statement on the 9th, saying it was "a matter in which safety and dignity were gravely violated."
The Chairperson said, "Even after the victim suffered serious injuries, adequate treatment was not guaranteed, and there are also allegations that the victim was pressured to return home," adding, "This shows that the unstable status of undocumented migrants can threaten treatment, remedies for rights, and overall stability of stay."
The victim entered Korea under the Employment Permit System (E-9) and, after the expiration of status, worked on dispatch to the establishment through a staffing office while undocumented.
The Chairperson said, "This case should not be seen as a deviation at one establishment, but should serve as an opportunity to review the reality in which human rights violations within business sites, exploiting vulnerable status, have been repeated."
The Chairperson also urged investigative authorities and relevant ministries to conduct a thorough investigation into human rights violations against the victim, inadequate safety measures, neglect of treatment, and other alleged issues.
The Chairperson further called for stronger cooperation among relevant agencies to provide medical support and industrial accident compensation for the victim and to prepare comprehensive measures to prevent a recurrence of human rights violations against migrant workers.
The Chairperson said, "The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will continue to monitor follow-up actions by relevant agencies and discussions on institutional improvements, and will do what is necessary to ensure that migrant workers do not suffer similar human rights violations."