The Korea Times
A Filipino seasonal worker was paid just 235,000 won ($155) after 18 days of 12-hour shifts at an oyster farm in Goheung, South Jeolla Province, in a case raising concerns of “modern-day slavery.” The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Wednesday that 26 foreign workers at two oyster farms were collectively owed 31.7 million won ($20,922) in unpaid wages. Two illegal brokers were also found to have siphoned off about 7 million won ($4,636) from workers. The findings follow a special labor inspection launched after the South Jeolla Migrant Workers' Rights Network alleged wage exploitation and forced labor at these two sites. According to the group, a 28-year-old Filipino woman entered Korea in November on an E-8 seasonal work visa. Although her contract guaranteed 2.09 million won ($1,379) a month, she was instead paid by output, earning 3,000 won ($1.98) per kilogram of oysters. She was also sent to work at a citron farm on days off, despite this not being part of her contract. The employer allegedly threatened to send her back to the Philippines if she did not meet production tar
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