Cambodian Worker Sexually Harassed by Colleague
Reported to Employer but No Action Taken
Left Company and Was Reported for Abandoning Workplace
A foreign worker who was sexually assaulted by a colleague was promised by the factory employer that he would be transferred to another company, but instead, the employer reported him for leaving the workplace.
On the 14th, JTBC's 'Newsroom' reported the story of Cambodian foreign worker Mr. A. Mr. A came to Korea last October in search of a job and started working at a factory in Gyeonggi-do. During this time, Mr. A was sexually harassed. Mr. B, a Thai worker at the same factory, pulled on Mr. A's clothes while drinking alcohol during dinner while sitting apart. When coworkers tried to stop Mr. B, a physical altercation broke out.
That night, Mr. B also opened Mr. A's door and entered. The factory’s dormitory, where 18 foreign workers work, has 10 bedrooms, and all door lock codes are set to 1234. Since changing the password was prohibited, Mr. A had hung a chain on the door, but Mr. B broke it and entered. When Mr. A screamed in shock, Mr. B returned to his room as if nothing had happened.
The next day, Mr. A approached the employer and confided about the incident, but nothing changed. After seeing Mr. B continue to work normally for several more days, Mr. A decided to leave the factory. However, the employer who had promised to send him to another company did not accept Mr. A’s workplace change report. Instead, the employer blocked his calls and reported Mr. A for leaving the workplace.
In an interview with JTBC, when asked why he did not accept the workplace change report, the employer replied, "I have no reason to answer and no time to waste, so just go. Do it through the law." Nearly a month has passed since the incident, but the local foreign employment center has taken no special action. As a result, it is reported that Mr. A is now at risk of becoming an undocumented resident.
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