SEOUL — A recent survey by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea revealed that migrant workers in the country face significant challenges with overdue wages, averaging 6.63 million won (approximately US$4,825).
According to Yonhap News Agency, which included 379 migrant workers who have been in Korea for over a year, these workers often experience delayed payments multiple times, with about 34.4 percent claiming overdue wages between 1 million and 3 million won.
The survey also found that 32 percent of respondents did not receive any of their overdue wages despite requests, while 30.9 percent were eventually paid in full and 34.8 percent received partial payments. The findings underscore the difficulties faced by migrant workers, including language barriers and a lack of understanding of local labor laws, which complicate their efforts to claim overdue wages. The commission suggested increasing support centers for migrant workers and enforcing stricter penalties for employers who delay payments as potential solutions.