A group of Philippine seasonal workers at a Goheung oyster farm narrowly escaped a forced deportation attempt as investigations into their exploitation by brokers were being conducted.
In a troubling incident at a Goheung oyster farm in South Jeolla Province, police investigations into the alleged exploitation of Filipino seasonal workers uncovered an attempt by brokers to forcefully deport around 30 workers. The groups advocating for the rights of migrant workers reported that on the morning of September 9, as the investigation intensified, brokers attempted to transport the seasonal workers in a tourist bus back to the Philippines. However, the deportation plan was foiled thanks to timely alerts from the workers via social media.
The workers, aware of the impending deportation, communicated their predicament on social media at around 1 AM, providing details about their planned departure from a specific location. Civil society organizations received this information and immediately alerted local authorities, including the Goheung County and the Ministry of Justice, effectively preventing the workers from being sent back, ensuring their availability as vital witnesses in the ongoing investigation.
Advocacy groups are calling for a thorough investigation into the brokers and employers involved, alleging attempts to destroy evidence. There are also demands for accountability for any complicity by local government officials in the forced deportation attempt. Furthermore, they stress the need to amend the Special Act on the Support for Employment of Farm and Fishery Workers, urging for more effective administrative sanctions against employers and brokers who violate human rights, thus protecting vulnerable seasonal workers from exploitation and trafficking.
