Shipyard workers protest increased visa quota for migrant laborers

Then-Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, proper, talks with migrant shipyard employees at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries‘ headquarters in Ulsan on this November 2023 picture. Newsis

Battle is intensifying within the Korean shipbuilding trade following the federal government’s latest choice to take care of an expanded quota for migrant laborers at shipyards.

As the federal government considers extending the short-term two-year coverage that permits migrant laborers to make up 30 p.c of the full-time home workforce at shipyards, Korean employees are demanding a rollback of the quota to the earlier 20 p.c.

Nevertheless, the demand is drawing backlash from labor activists supporting migrant employees, in addition to from shipbuilders who’re more likely to face an rising want to rent extra employees, notably with the expectation of cooperation with the incoming U.S. authorities on the upkeep, restore, and overhaul (MRO) of naval vessels.

Earlier this week, the unions representing Korea’s eight shipyards introduced plans to carry a press convention on Wednesday to induce the federal government and shipbuilders to cease counting on migrant laborers. Criticizing the federal government’s visa quota enlargement, the unions referred to as on administration to prioritize bettering labor situations.

Their plan follows the 2025 financial coverage instructions introduced final Thursday, through which the federal government mentioned it’ll preserve the expanded visa quota as a part of efforts to handle a labor scarcity within the shipbuilding trade.

The choice got here after Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who’s presently suspended from his duties, advised reporters final November that he’ll talk about with the justice ministry the problem of increasing the E-7 visa quota for shipyard employees, in response to a query about how the federal government intends to handle U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal for cooperation within the MRO of naval vessels.

Trump indicated his incoming administration’s intent to strengthen partnerships with Korean shipbuilders throughout a cellphone name final November with President Yoon Suk Yeol, who can be presently suspended from his duties.

A member of the Korean Metallic Staff‘ Union (KMWU), left, distributes newsletters concerning the union to migrant employees at HD Hyundai Samho’s shipyard in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, on this Could 2023 picture. Courtesy of KMWU

In response, the unions of the eight shipyards collected signatures from over 5,000 employees all through final month, urging the federal government to desert the visa quota enlargement plan.

„The federal government is making an attempt to fill harmful, low-paid and unstable job positions with migrant employees,“ the unions mentioned in an announcement.

In addition they expressed solidarity with migrant employees, urging the federal government to prioritize bettering dwelling situations for international laborers.

Nevertheless, the unions‘ transfer has been met with resistance.

Lim Jun-hyung, an activist at Staff‘ Solidarity, who has defended migrant laborers, described the unions‘ motion as „short-sighted,“ arguing that proscribing the visa quota may drive international nationals to hunt extra harmful and lower-paid jobs as undocumented immigrants.

In line with the activist, one of many leaders of the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries‘ union opposed the marketing campaign to gather signatures, claiming that it undermines solidarity between Korean and international employees.

„The marketing campaign will make migrant employees really feel excluded,“ Lim mentioned.

Shipbuilders have supported the federal government’s coverage, anticipating that potential cooperation with the U.S. authorities within the MRO of naval vessels will improve demand for employees.

„When it comes to effectivity, we will take into account tasking migrant laborers with easy and repetitive work through the MRO of U.S. naval vessels,“ a shipbuilding trade insider mentioned on situation of anonymity.

One other shipbuilding trade official acknowledged that the expanded visa quota will permit subcontractors to be extra versatile in hiring employees, given the hovering orders for ship development.