Sri Lankan Worker Faces Deportation After Workplace Bullying in South Korea

A 31-year-old Sri Lankan worker, referred to as A, is facing the threat of forced deportation after experiencing severe bullying from South Korean colleagues at a brick manufacturing plant in Naju, South Jeolla Province. Under the Employment Permit System (E-9 visa), foreign workers like A must secure new employment within three months of leaving their job to maintain their legal residency status. After leaving the brick factory, A is currently staying in temporary accommodation while searching for a new job. The Gwangju-Jeonnam Migrant Workers' Human Rights Network reported on July 25 that A is struggling with trauma from the bullying and anxiety over potential deportation.

Recently, the network released a video showing A being harassed by South Korean workers, who bound him with plastic wrap and lifted him with a forklift. This incident drew public outrage, including a statement from President Lee Jae-myung, who condemned the act as unacceptable violence against minorities and a clear violation of human rights. The Ministry of Employment and Labor has since initiated an investigation into the brick factory.

A entered South Korea in December under the Employment Permit System, which allows him to work for three years. However, changing jobs is challenging; he can only leave his position with the employer's consent in cases of wage theft or violence. If he does not find a new job within three months of leaving, he risks becoming an illegal resident. Labor experts note that it is often difficult for foreign workers to prove wage theft or other grievances, leading many to endure mistreatment rather than risk unemployment. Many foreign workers also live in company-provided housing, making it urgent to find new accommodation.

Sohn Sang-yong, a member of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Migrant Workers' Human Rights Network, emphasized that A should not have to face such difficulties in finding new employment and housing due to circumstances beyond his control.

Kim Young-rok, the governor of South Jeolla Province, met with A and promised to help him find stable employment. A expressed his desire to continue working in South Korea, sharing his dream of buying a tourist bus with the money he saves, having previously worked as a bus driver in Sri Lanka.

Go Gi-bok, a member of the Foreign Migrant Workers' Movement Council, criticized the current system, stating that it allows employers to control foreign workers' job changes and even their departure from the country. He called for reforms to make it easier for workers like A to change jobs when facing unfair treatment.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that they have assigned a dedicated official to assist A in finding employment quickly and will help him look for jobs outside of South Jeolla if necessary.

Foreign workers in South Korea are also facing issues with unpaid wages. According to the Ministry, the total amount of unpaid wages for foreign workers in January and February 2025 reached approximately 29.1 billion won, a significant increase from the previous year. In contrast, the overall unpaid wage amount for all workers decreased slightly during the same period. A tragic incident in February involved a Nepalese worker who took his own life after being subjected to violence and wage theft by his employer at a pig farm in Yeongam County, South Jeolla Province.