○ Gyeonggi Province to inspect dormitories and housing environments for migrant workers in farming regions
– Measures to improve migrant worker housing environments in farming regions follow death of a migrant worker in a Pocheon greenhouse
○ Detailed inspections to be conducted over 2-week period in cooperation with local government offices from January 4 to 15
– Task force tformed for on-site inspections
○ Governor Lee Jaemyung: “… there is no reason for discrimination regardless of skin color or language. Based in these inspections, we will prepare measures to ensure safer living environments for migrant workers.”

Following the recent death of a Cambodian migrant worker in a farm greenhouse in Pocheon City, Gyeonggi Province has implemented measures to closely inspect the housing conditions of migrant workers in farming and fishing regions of the province.

The aim of this initiative is to devise guidelines to improve housing conditions for migrant workers and create safer living environments by reducing the blind spots in terms of human rights.

The inspections of migrant worker dormitories in farming and fishing regions will be performed over a 2-week period in cooperation with local government offices from January 4 to 15.

Based on information from the Ministry of Employment and Labor statistics (as of the end of November 2020), 2,280 operations in farming, livestock and fishing regions of Gyeonggi Province will be subject to inspection. Operations not reflected in this figure will also be inspected with the assistance of local government offices.

The inspections, undertaken in accordance with the Enforcement Decree of the Labor Standards Act, will focus on housing conditions and installation sites, as well as the provision of restrooms, washing and bathing facilities, heating and ventilation systems, and safety equipment. Electrical wiring will also be inspected.

In relation to this, a task force led by Gyeonggi Province Labor Bureau Director General Kim Gyu-sik and comprised of members of the Foreigner Policy Division, Agricultural Policy Division, Livestock Policy Division, Maritime and Fisheries Division, and other related divisions will perform thorough inspections.

Through these inspections, Gyeonggi Province plans to improve living conditions for migrant workers at a provincial level, and also to propose better policies and measures to the central government as required.

Furthermore, any violation or risk factor entailing potential death by fire or hypothermia will require immediate rectification or amendment so as to ensure housing facility safety.

In relation to this, Gyeonggi Province Vice Governor Lee Han-gyu will visit migrant worker dormitories on a farm in Pocheon City on the January 5th to ascertain the situation and discuss improvement measures.

Governor Lee Jaemyung mentioned the death in Pocheon on social media on December 24, saying, “Autopsy results say the cause of death was poor health, but that does not change the gravity of this issue because the deceased lived in a greenhouse without receiving proper medical treatment or space in which recover.” Lee asserted, “All people deserve respect and there is no reason for discrimination regardless of skin color or language. Based in these inspections, we will prepare measures to ensure safer living environments for migrant workers.”