‘No freedom to flee’: Sri Lankan worker’s abuse reignites debate over Korea’s foreign labor system

The case of a Sri Lankan man tied to a forklift and dangled midair at a brick factory in Naju, South Jeolla Province, has reignited public anger and prompted the government to pledge a revamp of Korea’s foreign labor policy. Experts say the incident exposes the deep flaws of the country’s Employment Permit System (EPS), which severely limits migrant workers’ ability to leave abusive workplaces. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said on Monday that it would overhaul the EPS to ensure migrant workers can more easily transfer to new jobs when subjected to unjust or dangerous conditions. Planned reforms include tighter oversight of high-risk workplaces, tougher sanctions for abusive employers, and a more integrated support system covering workplace safety, labor rights, and job mobility for all foreign workers. The response follows a strong public outcry after the abuse video went viral and President Lee Jae-myung vowed to “strictly punish the barbaric human rights violations” committed against vulnerable workers. The victim, a 31-year-old migrant referred to as A, had endured moWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times