More than 300 foreign residents receive free legal education and counselling in second half of 2016
Createdd 2016-12-01 Hit 447
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Gyeonggi Province conducts first free on-site legal education and
counselling service this year; holds six sessions in three regions including
Hwaseong
On November 22, Gyeonggi
Province announced that it hosted its free on-site legal education and
counselling service for more than 300 foreign residents during the second half
of 2016. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News
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Last May, foreign worker “M” (50, Bangladesh) was involved in an accident at his
workplace, a factory for kitchen supplies in Gimpo City, in which fingers were severed
from his hand. Insufficient training on safety regulations and the fact that he
was not wearing protective gear contributed to the tragedy.
After
losing two knuckles, his index finger and middle finger on his right hand, M
was deemed disabled and has been unable to work for almost half a year. M was distraught
over the fact that he could not receive any medical treatment or compensation
from his former employer. Now he plans to take his former employer to court using
the free Gyeonggi Province on-site legal counselling service.
Gyeonggi
Province, the leading place of residence for foreign residents in Korea, is actively
promoting the legal welfare and rights of foreign residents. On November 22,
Gyeonggi Province announced that it hosted its free on-site legal education and
counselling service for more than 300 foreign residents during the second half
of 2016.
This was
part of the free legal counsel service for foreign residents in Gyeonggi
Province. It is the first customized service for foreign residents offered this
year who have difficulties resolving their issues; especially if they suffer
from disadvantages and/or discrimination.
Gyeonggi
Province hosted the legal service on six occasions at four organizations
including: the Foreign Resident Welfare Center in Hwaseong City on October 13,
October 27 and November 6; the Multicultural Family Support Center in Hwaseong
City on October 14; the Foreign Resident Welfare Center in Siheung City on
November 13; and at the Foreign Resident Support Center in Gimpo City on
November 20.
The
service featured legal education on daily legal matters, labor-management
affairs, immigration status and other matters as well as legal counselling on
unfair dismissals, overdue wages, visa changes, and more. Of particular note,
the legal counselling service was conducted by attorneys and certified labor
attorneys affiliated with Gyeonggi Province’s Legal Affairs Office.
Through
its new program, Gyeonggi Province was able to provide counselling in 91 cases,
and will proceed to court – free of charge – in nine cases. The cases taken to court include three
divorce suits on grounds of domestic violence, three civil claims for damages
due to industrial accidents, and two overdue wage cases.
A
Gyeonggi Province official said, “While offering our new free legal education and
counselling service to foreign residents who couldn’t come to the free legal
counsel office at the provincial government complex because they didn’t know how to ask for help or
they didn’t have time, we learned that there were a large number of tragic cases.” The official added, “We began offering the free
legal education and counselling service to eliminate any blind spots in our
legal system for foreign residents and to protect their rights. Next year, we
plan to increase the number of places we visit.”
Gyeonggi
Province has been offering its free legal counselling service for foreign
residents since 2012. So far, up until the second half of 2016, the provincial government
has provided counselling in 760 cases and supported 27 pro bono court cases. In
terms of foreign resident population, Gyeonggi Province recorded 554,160 as of
December 2015.
Foreign
residents who seek counselling can visit Gyeonggi Province’s free legal counsel office
between 10:00am and 5:00pm on weekdays. Interpretation is offered in five
languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, Mongolian, and Vietnamese.
Lee
Jun-Kyun eyekle@hanmail.net