Establishing Institutional Support Foundations for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights of Migrant Workers in Gwangju Region

Councilor Jeong Daeun's Proposed Ordinance Passed in the Plenary Session

Institutional support grounds for the protection and promotion of the human rights of migrant workers in the Gwangju area have been established.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Council on the 14th, Councilor Jeong Da-eun (Democratic Party of Korea, Buk-gu 2), who was the main proposer, had the "Gwangju Metropolitan City Ordinance on the Protection and Promotion of the Human Rights of Migrant Workers" passed at the plenary session the day before.

Councilor Jeong Da-eun explained the background of the ordinance proposal, saying, "In the case of Gwangju City, there is a lack of institutional support to ensure that migrant workers related to economic activities can receive the value of labor without human rights violations," and "The human rights of migrant workers should not be violated simply because their skin and language are different."

The ordinance stipulates comprehensive matters such as purpose, definitions, responsibilities, and basic principles to regulate the fundamental matters for the protection and promotion of the human rights of migrant workers. It includes contents such as establishing a basic plan for human rights promotion, implementing projects for human rights protection and promotion, and setting up a Migrant Workers Human Rights Center.

The number of foreigners residing in Gwangju City was recorded as 20,934 in 2021, 22,976 in 2022, and 25,348 in 2023, showing an annual increase.

Furthermore, with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the scale of foreign workforce introduction in 2024 is expected to expand compared to 2023, so the employment of foreign workers is anticipated to continue increasing.

Councilor Jeong said, "Support for migrant workers is not something given as charity but is necessary as a way to realize the human rights they have as 'people,'" adding, "Everyone living in Gwangju has the right to live as the owner of a free and humane community in a broad range of areas without discrimination for any reason such as race, gender, nationality, place of origin, or social status."

Meanwhile, Councilors Jo Seok-ho, Choi Ji-hyun, Park Mi-jung, Seo Yong-gyu, and Lee Myeong-no participated as co-proposers of this ordinance.