South Korea Launches Campaign to End Demeaning Names for Migrant Workers

South Chungcheong Province in South Korea is spearheading a campaign to change how migrant workers are addressed, moving away from dehumanizing terms towards respectful name-calling. The initiative, launched in Asan, emphasizes that using a worker's name is the first step toward ensuring their safety and dignity in industrial settings.

The provincial government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and several public foundations, organized the "Migrant Worker Labor Respect Campaign in Chungnam." The core objective is to cultivate a workplace culture where migrant workers are called by their names, not derogatory terms. This shift is seen as crucial for protecting labor rights and preventing industrial accidents.

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Calling migrant workers by their names, rather than using dehumanizing terms like 'Hey' or 'You idiot,' is the beginning of respect and safety.

The campaign launch event saw participation from around 200 individuals, including government officials, labor organization representatives, business leaders, and migrant workers themselves. Attendees observed a moment of silence for migrant workers who died in industrial accidents. They also signed a large helmet, symbolizing a commitment to calling each other by name and fostering a culture of mutual respect.

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The purpose of this campaign is to spread a culture of calling migrant workers by their names in the workplace, thereby realizing the protection of labor rights and the prevention of industrial accidents.