A Seoul court on Thursday ruled in favor of foreign workers seeking to join a trade union despite their illegal status from overstaying visas.
In the first official recognition of the right of illegal migrants to association, the Seoul High Court dismissed a lower court ruling that said illegal migrant workers are not eligible to form a labor union.
A group of 91 migrant workers, including illegal foreigners, filed a suit but were thwarted by the Seoul Administration Court last year when it said illegal aliens did not possess the legal right.
Kwon Young-kuk, a lawyer for the migrant workers, expressed satisfaction and said he saw the court's judgement as acknowledging their right to create a labor union.
South Korea invites a number of migrant workers from neighboring Asian countries to compensate for workforce shortfalls in physically demanding and low-paying jobs, mostly in the services and construction industries.
Seoul, Jan. 31 (Yonhap News)
Court allows illegal aliens right to form union |
