Information about the case of 59 Vietnamese tourists absconding in Korea

According to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, initially, the Korean side only provided information that these people were "missing" and did not use the term "abandoned".

Regarding the case of 59 Vietnamese people who traveled to Jeju Island, South Korea and then escaped (there is information that they tried to escape to stay in South Korea to work), Mr. Tong Hai Nam, Deputy Director of the Department of Overseas Labor Management (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs) said: Initially, the South Korean side only provided information that these people were "missing" and did not use the term "abandoned".

Mr. Hai Nam said: "49 tourists traveling to Jeju Island, according to initial information, were missing, then 28 people were caught and 3 people were working at a facility, but it was not said that they were working at that facility."

Mr. Nam also said: "Currently, we have not received any information from Korean authorities regarding whether or not it will affect the cooperation program between Vietnam and Korea in sending workers to work in Korea?".

The Department of Overseas Labor Management has also issued a warning about the risks that workers may encounter when working illegally in Korea, such as: not being protected by Korean law, even when being mistreated by the employer, not being paid or being paid less than the prescribed salary, or when living and working conditions are not guaranteed; not being entitled to severance pay, health insurance, or risk insurance.

In addition, the Korean judicial police regularly organize forces to crack down on illegal foreign workers. Korea also has a policy of punishing illegal workers. Illegal workers will be fined up to 40 million won (equivalent to more than 730 million VND) or imprisoned for up to 12 months. In case the worker does not pay the fine, he/she will be forced to undergo labor reform to pay the fine.

Currently, Vietnam has about 60,000 workers working in Korea, of which the rate of illegal escape to work in Korea under the EPS program is currently 35% (about 15,000 people)./.

According to VOV.VN