‘Little ghosts’: Lots of of Thai migrants have died in South Korea, investigation finds

BANGKOK/SEOUL – The deaths of tons of of primarily undocumented Thai migrant employees in South Korea have been uncovered by the Thomson Reuters Basis, prompting the United Nations to name for inquiry into the destiny of migrants generally known as “little ghosts.”

No less than 522 Thais have died in South Korea since 2015 — 84% of whom had been undocumented — based on knowledge from the Thai Embassy in Seoul obtained by way of a freedom of data request.

4 in 10 deaths had been recorded as as a result of unknown causes whereas others had been well being associated, accidents and suicides.

The variety of employee deaths hit a report annual excessive this yr — 122 as of mid-December — based on the newly-revealed knowledge from the Thai Embassy, amid rising considerations in regards to the impression of the coronavirus pandemic on labor situations.

Extra Thais died in South Korea — 283 — than some other international nation between 2015 and 2018, based on knowledge obtained by way of a separate FOI request to Thailand’s Overseas Ministry. Statistics weren’t obtainable for 2019 and 2020.

“(The info) is regarding and requires consideration and investigation,” mentioned Nilim Baruah, a specialist on labor migration on the U.N. Worldwide Labour Group.

“Undocumented migrant employees are the least protected and their well being and security are a priority.”

Present and former migrant employees, campaigners and Thai officers mentioned tens of hundreds of undocumented migrants in South Korea had been overworked, unable to entry well being care and unlikely to report exploitation for worry of being deported.

Knowledge on migrant deaths isn’t made public by both authorities so there may be little consideration on labor situations or scope to enhance the scenario at a time when the fallout from COVID-19 has left extra international employees in danger, activists mentioned.

The U.N. Worldwide Group for Migration (IOM) mentioned it was “involved” in regards to the knowledge and was monitoring the scenario.

The South Korea ministries for labor, justice and international affairs declined to touch upon the info. The South Korean Embassy in Bangkok didn’t reply to request for remark.

No less than 460,000 Thais work overseas, legally and illegally, knowledge from Thailand’s Overseas Ministry exhibits. South Korea is the highest vacation spot, house to about 185,000 Thai migrants who can earn considerably greater than they’d obtain in Thailand.

Whereas a visa-free journey association between the 2 nations was established in 1981, labor specialists mentioned many Thais migrated for work forward of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and ended up staying as undocumented employees at factories and on farms.

Tough and soiled work

A couple of tenth of the 185,000 Thai migrants in South Korea work there legally by a labor migration scheme known as the employment allow system, the Thai Embassy in Seoul mentioned.

The remaining are migrants with out authorized documentation — known as “phi noi” or “little ghosts” in Thai — who pay brokers in Thailand hefty recruitment charges to arrange jobs overseas. The cost can embody flights and lodging in South Korea.

These migrants — who turn into undocumented after overstaying a 90-day restrict for visa-free journey for Thais in South Korea — mentioned they might earn at the least 1.2 million Korean gained ($1,100) a month, which is greater than triple the minimal wage in Thailand.

Thailand’s Overseas Affairs Ministry mentioned its embassies had been duty-bound to take care of Thai individuals no matter their standing, however having access to undocumented employees was troublesome.

The Thai Embassy in Seoul compiles knowledge on migrant deaths based mostly on studies from hospitals or police for deaths that happen at work or house. All deaths are adopted up with an post-mortem however the outcomes usually are not made public, based on the embassy.

“Many unlawful Thai employees die unexpectedly throughout sleep, doubtless as a result of overworking and private well being issues with out correct treatment,” mentioned Thai official Bancha Yuenyongchongcharoen, a minister on the embassy in Seoul.

“These employees undertake onerous and soiled work and do not need entry to state healthcare,” Bancha mentioned by cellphone.

The Asan Migrant Staff Middle mentioned there have been considerations that undocumented employees from different nations corresponding to Nepal, Indonesia and Vietnam had been additionally dying of unknown causes.

“In case you have no visa, your entry to medical care is lower off and it’ll price you 10 million gained ($9,140) to go to the hospital and get surgical procedure,” mentioned Woo Sam-yeol, supervisor of the civic group.

“So many undocumented migrants who’re sick, together with Thais, swallow their ache till it takes a deadly toll on them.”

After the demise of a Burmese employee in 2018, South Korea’s human rights fee made suggestions to the justice ministry on methods to cease additional deaths, corresponding to taking accountability for accidents and suspending crackdowns on undocumented employees.

The ministry was attentive to a few of the suggestions, saying it could make clear its security protocol for crackdowns and enhance schooling for officers, based on the fee.

The justice ministry didn’t present touch upon the fee’s suggestions to the Thomson Reuters Basis.

‘We’re little ghosts’

The Thomson Reuters Basis spoke to seven present and former undocumented Thai migrant employees in South Korea who described being paid lower than the minimal wage and dealing lengthy days in troublesome situations, starting from soiled to harmful.

Nid — who didn’t give her actual identify for worry of retribution — was working as a cleaner in a motel within the central metropolis of Cheongju when she fell sick with a fever in July.

Having labored 15-hour shifts with solely in the future off a month — in violation of Korean labor legal guidelines — the 32-year-old mentioned her fevers left her unable to work for nearly 4 months.

“I assumed I might fall asleep and by no means get up,” mentioned Nid, who now works as a masseuse — her tenth job since 2016 when she paid brokers 100,000 baht ($3,330) to search out work in South Korea.

Nid mentioned she contacted the Thai Embassy in Seoul after falling sick and requested for help to return house. She mentioned she was positioned on a ready record, which at present accommodates about 10,000 Thais in South Korea, based on knowledge from the embassy.

“It’s as in the event that they already made a judgment — we’re phi noi (little ghosts) and selected to return right here illegally, so we’ve to place up with the scenario,” she mentioned by cellphone.

Some organizations, such because the Namyangju Metropolis Migrant Welfare Middle, present free well being care to undocumented migrants however mentioned the coronavirus pandemic had disrupted their companies.

“For instance, there are a lot of undocumented employees who want drugs for his or her diabetes, however since we can’t roll out our free companies now as a result of COVID-19, their situations are worsening,” mentioned Lee Younger, a priest who works with the group.

In April, South Korean well being authorities vowed to struggle “quarantine blind spots” by guaranteeing undocumented migrants entry to coronavirus testing with out worry of repercussions.

South Korea’s Justice Ministry mentioned undocumented migrants had been in a position to voluntarily depart the nation with none penalties after the onset of the pandemic, however mentioned that the choice got here to an finish in June.

The Thai Embassy in Seoul mentioned it had helped at the least 10,000 migrants to return to Thailand from South Korea this yr.

Outdoors the legislation

The Thai Labor Ministry mentioned individuals who migrate to South Korea by the EPS — and their households — are eligible for presidency compensation in case of sickness or demise.

“The issue is most individuals are unlawful employees and are due to this fact exterior the safety of the legislation,” mentioned Suchat Pornchaiwiseskul, head of the ministry’s employment division.

The Thai authorities mentioned it has launched a number of measures to stop its residents from working illegally overseas lately, corresponding to producing instructional movies and cracking down on unscrupulous on-line recruitment web sites.

However labor rights campaigners mentioned such measures wouldn’t resolve the issue of unlawful migration and urged the Thai authorities to make it simpler for individuals to work legally overseas.

“There’s stigma related to irregular migrants, who usually are not human beings within the eyes of Thai individuals,” mentioned Roisai Wongsuban from The Freedom Fund, an anti-slavery group.

“The Thai authorities doesn’t have an understanding of the significance of constructing migration safer,” this system advisor mentioned.

One former migrant employee — who requested to stay nameless — mentioned he paid 120,000 baht ($4,000) to a Thai dealer in 2014 for a job in South Korea, and ended up engaged on a pig farm within the southeastern metropolis of Daegu the place he was allowed no days off.

When he didn’t receives a commission his wage after three months, the 51-year-old determined to run away. Earlier than leaving, he mentioned he wrote a message in Thai on his bed room wall to warn others.

“To Thai buddies: if you’re despatched to work right here, beware that you simply gained’t receives a commission,” it learn.