In-Depth Protecting the environment in our everyday lives

Reducing everyday waste at home is the first step in protecting the environment!
Let us all remember the three words to reduce waste.
-3R : Reduce, Re-use, Recycle

◆ Eight Habits that help reduce everyday waste

1. Always separate waste and rubbish, and categorize
recyclable materials : Separating recyclable materials as much
as possible is the best way to conserve resources.
2. Use a re-usable shopping bag or basket when shopping:
Many people often use plastic shopping bags provided by the
stores without giving it much thought. However, plastic
shopping bags are another cause of pollution as they take de-
cades of years to decompose.
as much as possible : Preparing just the right amount of food
can reduce waste. Also, getting rid of foreign matters from food
waste and reducing moisture before disposal can help with the
recycling process.
6. Re-use unwanted products with neighbors : Children’s
products, toys, etc. are no longer needed when your child grows
up. Let’s encourage hand-me-downs by sharing with relatives,
colleagues and neighbors.

3. Use refill products
Using refill products instead of using disposable products is
not only economical, we can re-use the refill products to reduce
waste and cost.
4. Avoid using disposable products such as paper cups, wood-
en chopsticks, napkins : Although using disposable products
can be convenient, they will become the biggest cause in the
increase of waste.
5. Prepare only food that can be consumed within a short
period. When throwing out food waste, get rid of the moisture
7. Repairing and re-using broken articles : Broken down
home appliances or furniture can become as good as new after a
few simple repairs. Things that is no longer care for can be sold
at flea markets or donated to charity organizations.
8. Do not throw away or burn waste illegally : Throwing out
or burning waste illegally in vacant land or out in the streets
not only creates an unclean environment, it also causes air
pollution
<Source> Ministry of Environment Cyber PR Center Policy Division

Issue
How we should handle earthquakes
Recently, there has been a heightened interest in earthquakes as there have been major incidents in Haiti, Chile and Turkey.
This year alone, earthquakes magnitude of 3.0 on the highest Scale hit three areas of Korea in Shiheung Gyeonggi-do, Taean
Chungnam and Jeju-do. Korea, which had long been considered a safety zone when it came to earthquakes, is now no longer
free from reassurance.
According to the statistics by the Korea Meteorological Administration, there have been 60 earthquakes in Korea last year.
During the 31 years the Korea Meteorological Administration made observations on earthquakes since 1978 have there been
as many earthquakes as this year. Of course most of them were weak, making them difficult to be detected by people but
however, the frequency this year is recorded to be the highest considering the fact that the previous average frequency of
earthquakes has been around 41 times a year. Then what should we do in the event of an earthquake? Let us review the steps.

* What should we do in the event of an earthquake * Seek shelter in a designated area.

◦When indoors, immediately seek shelter under a table or
a desk and protect yourself by holding onto a sturdy
object like a table.
◦ Switch off all electrical appliances and gas stove.
◦ Do not panic and run outside. If possible, stay indoors
until the earthquake stops. When you go outside to seek
shelter, be careful of falling objects such as glass win-
dows, sign boards, etc.
◦ As the door may be twisted and may not open, quickly
open the door and secure emergency exit.
◦ Do not seek shelter in a narrow road or near a fence.
◦ If an earthquake occurs and you happen to be in a moun-
tainous or coastal area, seek shelter in a flat land where
there is no danger of a landslide or a hill or mountain far
from the coast.
◦Check the safety of your family and neighbors. Foremost,
rescue and provide emergency medical care to the elderly,
and children, challenge them physically and mentally
◦ Seek information through the radio, TV and administrative
organizations to act appropriately and do not be swept up
by wild rumors.
<Source> Seoul Branch of Seoul Emergency Operations
Center (02-812-0366)

2
3 외국인근로자를 위한 다국어 뉴스레터
 Everyday Legal Matters 3
Do not dispose of litter carelessly!
Rubbish, such as cigarette butts, chewing gum and tissue must be disposed in the rubbish bin
instead of out on the streets. If not, one is subject to a penalty according to Article 1 Clause 16
of the Punishment of Minor Offenses Act, and can be fined accordingly.
- Rubbish, dead animal: 50,000 won
- Cigarette butts, tissue: 30,000 won

Information provided by Foreign Affairs Division of Geumchun Police Station

Won Kyung Kim’s Consultation

③ Employment Seeking Period
For migrant workers who come to Korea under the Employment Permit System, the job search period is not
only important, it is a source of many questions. It is not clear within how many months a job seeker who
applies for workplace changes have to secure re-employment, or what must be done if a worker cannot make
the workplace change due to pregnancy, childbirth or diseases. Let us review solutions on what needs to be
done in these and other cases.

M, who came to Korea from Indonesia on May 2005, works in a food processing plant with her husband.
Five month into her pregnancy, she currently has a big worry. It has become difficult for her to continue
working due to her pregnancy. When she became pregnant, the company she works for notified her that her
work contract will not be extended when it expires in May, telling her to leave the company at the end of the
contract. When she retires from the company in May, she would have to seek other employment immediately
but no company will readily hire a pregnant woman and according to the law, if she doesn’t find employment
with another company within 3 months, she will have to return to Indonesia. For M and her husband who
should be filled with happiness and hopes of meeting their newborn, they are filled with agonizing concerns.

*『Article 25 Clause 1 of the Act on Employment, etc. of Foreign Workers』

According to Article 21 of the Immigration Act, migrant
workers must depart from the country if they have not re-
ceived approval on workplace changes within 3 months of
filing application for workplace changes, or has not filed for
workplace changes within 1 month of work contract expira-
tion date with the previous employer.
However, those who cannot receive approval on workplace
changes or apply for workplace changes due to work-related
accidents, diseases, pregnancy or childbirth, etc, the days are
calculated from when grounds for being unable to receive ap-
proval or make application disappear.
1. Calculation of job seeking period after workplace
changes
Previously, migrant workers who applied for workplace
changes had to be re-employed within 2 months after fil-
ing for workplace changes. However, workers who apply for
workplace changes from December 10th 2009 can be re-em-
ployed within 3 months due to changes in the legislation. For
example, migrant workers whose work contract expire March
1st 2010, the worker needs to apply for workplace changes
within 1 month after the contract expiration date, which is
March 31st 2010. Furthermore, if the workplace change was
filed on March 10th 2010, workplace change must be finalized
within 3 months, which is within June 10th 2010.
2. How to extend job search period
In the case of M, her job search period of 3 months starts
after the day she gives birth to her child. However, she must
submit a written medical diagnosis provided by the hospital to
the job support center to receive extension on the job search
period. Most often, the extension for job search period is given
after being 4 months pregnant. Other causes of extension also
need to supply the job support centers with documents such
as a written medical diagnosis as evidentiary materials.
3. How should M extend her job search period?
M should work until the end of her work contract. After
retiring, she should submit a written medical diagnosis that
verifies her pregnancy term to the job support center with-
in 1 month to file for workplace changes. The job support
center will extend the job search period from the day of
application to 3 months after the expected childbirth date.
* This article is provided by Won Kyung Kim, Assistant Manager of
the Korea Migrants’ Center’s Consultation Team.
☎1644-0644

MigrantOK 2
3
 Health
Schedule for Mobile Medical Center
◆ The Korean Hansen Welfare Association (KHWA) is providing a mobile medical care service for migrant work-
ers. 14 medical care staff will available for comprehensive medical testing as well as to provide specialized
medical care in the areas of dermatology & urology, X-Ray, anemia, hepatitis, etc. (Schedule for 2nd half of the
year to be announced at a later date)

Schedule Name of Organization Venue for medical care

4.4 12:00~ Korean-Chinese House Korean-Chinese House
4.11 13:00~ Korea Migrants' Center Korea Migrants' Center
4.18 11:00~ Raphael Clinic Dongsung High School
4.25 12:00~ Archdiocese of Seoul Counseling Room for Foreign Workers
5.2 10:00~ Korea Buddhism Seonjae Community Medical Association Bongeunsa Temple
5.9 12:00~16:00 Jubilee Mission Fellowship Gasan Elementary School
5.16 10:00~ Choong Hyun Church Choong Hyun Church
10:00~12:00 Gangdong Migrants' Center Seongnae Social Welfare Center
5.30
14:00~ Youngnak Church Youngnak Church
11:00~12:00 Pyeonggang Church Gangbuk-gu Public Heath Center
6.13
13:00~ Seoul Light & Salt Church Nu Won High School
6.20 11:00~ Nowon Full Gospel Church Nowon Full Gospel Church

6.27 11:00~13:00 Migrant Worker's Welfare Society in Korea Migrant Worker's Welfare Society in Korea
13:30~ Galilee Church Galilee Church

* Inquiry : Korean Hansen Welfare

만화컷
Cartoon Various Information Advertising 광고

MNTV – News Broadcast in

A.1644-0644 Migrants’ Help Line is a
foreign language consultation hotline
that is in operations to help migrant
workers facing difficulties with lan-
guage communications.
When spending
time with the You can dial 1644-0644 anywhere na-
trees and plants,
tionwide to be connected and receive
consultation service in 17 different
languages.
Consultation area
Multi-Languages
MNTV 다국어뉴스 방영
* Broadcast Languages: Korean / English / Thai /
Tagalog (Philippines) / Mongolian / Vietnamese /
Urdu (Pakistan) / Chinese / Uzbek / Indonesian
/ Nepali / Khmer (Cambodia) / Sri Lankan
* Time: Every Tuesday 12 a.m.
* Information & Tip Line: (02)6900-8234,
info@mntv.net
* Website: www.mntv.net

Smile a soft smile as if

you are drawing a circle
- Delay in wages, residency and ar-
rival & departure, employment per- Migrant Worker’s Hospital
mit system, working visit, industrial ☎02-863-9966
accidents
- Inter-country marriages, women’s 이주민의료센터 ☎02-863-9966

The Migrant Workers’ Hospital offers free

How to use
medical care, with health care service that
1644 – 0644 + country extension number
includes out-patient & in-patient program and
1. Korean 2. Mongolian 3. Vietnamese 4.
Chinese 5. Indonesian surgeries. Please let the word out about the
Instead of raising your voice.
At the Arboretum … 6. Thai 7. English and Tagalog 8. Sri hospital so that migrant workers with financial
By Juloo
Lankan 9. Uzbek + Russian 10. Urdu + difficulties can receive proper medical
India 11. Khmer 12. Nepali 13. Bur-
mese 14. Bengali attention.

Founded in August 22, 2005 Korea Migrants' Center Office Tel. 02-6900-8231 Edited by E&G Design
(Registration No. Guro La 00081) (152-801) newsletter@migrantok.org Tel. 031-8007-6600
Publisher: KIM Hae-sung 137-1 Garibongdong Guro-gu Seoul www.migrantok.org / www.migrant.kr
1
4
 2010. 04 No.54

Policy
Improving migrants’everyday grievances
◆ The Ministry of Public Administration and Security developed improvement
measures on everyday grievances to ease difficulties that the general civilian
and underprivileged population face daily. The improvement measures were
jointly developed with relevant groups and will be effective in stages starting
from this year until the next. Amongst the many improvement measures, let
us take a closer look at the areas that concern marriage migrant women and
migrant workers.

— Areas concerning marriage migrant women

Improvement measures Improvement measures Responsibility
Ministry of Public
Registering marriage migrant Registering marriage migrant women on their spouses’ household
Administration and
women on household register register to enable verification of family relations (2010.08)
Security
Ease of qualifications for local The one-time residency period for divorced marriage migrant wom-
residency for divorced marriage en who have children with Korean nationality to be extended to 3 Ministry of Justice
migrant women years maximum (2010.06)

Higher Council of the

Record foreigner registration number that is a tool for identity veri- Judicature
Increase tools for identity Ministry for Health, Wel-
fication on the family relation certification as well as on the foreigner
verification fare and Family Affairs
registration card. (2010.02) Ministry of Public Admin-
istration and Security

Increase foreigners’ rights to
use the internet
Ministry of Public
Enable membership registration on websites of public institu- Administration and
Security
tions and commercial sites (2010.02) Korea Communications
Commission

Strengthen support for Continuous operation (annual) of programs to provide employment

employment opportunities opportunities and job training for marriage migrants, such as chefs Ministry for Health,
Welfare and Family
and establishment of business specializing in cuisine of native country, foreign language lecturer, etc. Affairs
enterprises

— Areas concerning migrant workers

Improvement measures
Improvement of requirements
on temporary departure from
country
Details and Effective Timing Responsibility
In the event that the spouse or a member ( or members) of the im-
mediate family passes away, improvement to the policy has been
Ministry of Labour
made so that the migrant worker can temporarily leave for their
home country (2010.06)

Labor contract extended to maximum 3 years to provide stability for

Extension of labor contract
the migrant worker as well as to ease inconvenience involved in the Ministry of Labour
period process of extending the labor period and labor contract. (2010.04)

To simplify the process of employment changes for migrant work-

Simplification in the process
to change the labor contract
Ministry of Labour
ers, the process of notifying employment status changes has been
Ministry of Justice
centralized, a process that previously overlapped with the Ministry
of Labor and the Ministry of Justice.

4
1