I never expected to be a disabled person in another country: the stories of migrant workers with acquired disabilities in Korea

Abstract

From the mid-1980s onwards, there has been a significant labor force migration to Korea from other Asian countries due to the availability of higher wages in Korea. The majority of the migrant workers work in small businesses, categorized as simple and high-risk occupations, leading them to be exposed to more dangerous and high-risk working environments and to more frequent industrial accidents. This study researched the experiences of industrial accidents by interviewing 11 migrant workers who had industrial accidents while working in Korea. Based on the study results, I recommend strengthening industrial safety education in workers’ native languages, increasing cultural understanding of the medical staff and of the need for an interpreter, supporting non-benefit items of medical expenses, educating workers about Workers’ Compensation Insurance and promoting the use of this entitlement, and developing non-governmental organizations’ capacity to represent the rights of the migrant workers and improve employers’ mentality regarding migrant workers. As labor migration grows worldwide, all nations must implement strategies to protect industrially injured migrant workers.

Keywords:

• migration
• disability
• industrially injured migrant workers