Nightmare in South Korea
Yet another Malaysian pays a heavy price by getting severely injured while working illegally in South Korea.>
PETALING JAYA: Malaysians who work illegally in South Korea, lured by promises of high pay and benefits by agents only to end up being cheated or maimed, do so at their own risk.
“The matter indirectly tarnishes the image of our country. As such, I advise all parties to be careful and avoid falling victim to such scams,” Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said when contacted by mStar Online.
“A Malaysian wishing to visit any country must adhere to the entry conditions and local laws.”
He noted that these victims’ status as illegal workers is one of the main factors that make it difficult for the Government to help.
He added that those getting offers to work abroad should take the initiative to verify the validity and details of their employment in the country concerned.
“Please get all the information through the foreign embassies here or the Malaysian Embassy in those countries.
“The Malaysian Embassy is always ready to help our citizens but will have difficulties providing consular aid if it is found that they are working abroad without a valid permit,” he said.
He warned that anyone entering a country without a valid visa or work permit is subject to the laws of that nation.
Reezal Merican acknowledged that there may be a small number of agents who lure Malaysians to work in South Korea with promises of high pay.
He was commenting on the plight of several Malaysians that was uncovered in an investigation jointly carried out by The Star’s Bahasa Malaysia portal mStar Online and The Korea Herald.
A source residing in South Korea claimed that almost all Malaysians working there are gambling with their fate after paying between RM4,000 and RM5,000 to agents without knowing the responsibilities and scope of the jobs offered.
The promise of high salaries – between RM6,000 and RM12,000 a month – is the main reason why Malaysians are willing to risk working illegally there.
Using tourist visas to work as illegal labourers, they take up 3D (difficult, dirty and dangerous) jobs, mainly in the manufacturing, construction and plantation sectors.
Besides being cheated by agents and having their salaries withheld, some of them also claimed that they were beaten and manipulated, and workplace safety was disregarded by their employers.
The source said that there have been 87 such cases involving Malaysian victims in two years, which includes the case of a former flight attendant who lost four fingers in April while working at a steel company in South Korea.