Government to inspect working conditions of foreign seasonal workers in fisheries amid forced labor concerns

The government is moving to inspect the human rights conditions of foreign seasonal workers in the fisheries sector, after reports of forced labor at some fishing sites prompted related ministries to launch joint on-site checks.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Justice announced Tuesday that they will conduct joint on-site inspections of fishing households employing foreign seasonal workers for one month starting Wednesday.

In areas with high demand for foreign seasonal workers or where human rights violations have been reported, the related ministries will carry out joint inspections. Local governments will conduct their own checks in other regions.

Key items to be reviewed include compliance with labor contracts, enrollment in mandatory insurance, whether human rights education has been provided, and the adequacy of housing.

Alongside the inspections, the government will also work to improve working conditions for foreign workers.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries plans to expand a public-sector seasonal work program — under which local fisheries cooperatives directly hire and manage foreign workers before supplying labor to fishing households — from one site this year to four next year. The number of welfare centers used as housing for foreign workers will also increase from nine this year to 12 next year.

The public-sector seasonal work program operates with fiscal support from the central and local governments, enabling regional fisheries cooperatives to directly hire and manage foreign seasonal workers and then supply them to fishing households.

Choe Hyeon-ho, director general for fisheries policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said the ministry would "continuously monitor the human rights conditions of foreign workers in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and other related agencies." He added that it would "work to improve working and residential environments by expanding the public-sector seasonal work program and welfare centers, reflecting feedback from the field."