Nearly half of foreign workers in S. Korea work in mining, manufacturing

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Seoul, March 18 (IANS) Almost half of migrant workers in South Korea were employed in the mining and manufacturing industries last year, data showed on Tuesday.

Of the 1.56 million foreign residents here, 64.7 percent had jobs last year, while 31.4 percent were economically inactive and 3.9 percent were unemployed, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.

Among the employed, 45.6 percent worked in the mining and manufacturing industries, while 18.9 percent worked in the wholesale, retail and restaurant businesses, reports Yonhap news agency.

Some 14 percent worked for private businesses or in the public service sector, 10.6 percent were in construction, and 8.3 percent were in the agriculture and fisheries businesses.

More than 51 percent of foreign workers received a monthly average wage of between 2 million won (US$1,382) and 3 million won, while 37.1 percent earned over 3 million won.

By visa type, 19.4 percent of the foreign residents were here with non-professional employment visas and 12.8 percent were on student visas. Some 9 percent were permanent residents, and 7.8 percent were married to Korean citizens.

Data also showed the average happiness level of the foreign residents was 4.3 points on a five-point scale.

About 17.4 percent of foreigners said they experienced discrimination in South Korea, with 27.7 percent of foreign students reporting such an experience.

Meanwhile, the government will help depopulation regions attract more foreign workers by expanding the eligibility for region-specific visas and easing their issuance requirements, the Ministry of Justice said.

The region-specific visas are currently restricted to 89 depopulation areas nationwide but the ministry will expand the number of eligible areas to 107 by including 18 areas in danger of depopulation.

The government will also create a region-specific skilled worker (E-7-4R) visa with a relaxed stay period and requirements, the ministry said.

The ministry said it plans to allow foreigners who stay in the country for more than two years with a non-professional employment (E-9) visa or a maritime crew (E-10) visa to convert to the E-7-4R visa if they meet the qualification requirements in areas such as skills.

–IANS

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Priyanka Gandhi slams BJP leaders for forcing folk singer Devi to apologise publicly

Patna, Dec 27 (IANS) A day after folk singer Devi was forced to publicly apologise by BJP leaders for singing Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan, “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram”, the incident sparked sharp criticism from Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who accused the BJP of hypocrisy and intolerance.

She shared a video of the incident on social media, condemning the BJP’s actions.

“BJP leaders forced folk singer Devi to apologise for singing Bapu’s favourite bhajan. They offer flowers to Bapu to show the world but in reality, they have no respect for him,” she said.

She went on to accuse the BJP of disrespecting India’s inclusive culture and the legacy of great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar.

“They take the name of B.R. Ambedkar for show, but in reality, they insult him. BJP hates our tolerant and inclusive culture and tradition so much that they insult our great men again and again,” she added.

Folk singer Devi was performing at an event to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and sang the bhajan of Mahatma Gandhi’s “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” when BJP leaders objected to her.

Following their intervention, Devi issued a public apology, stating, “If I have hurt anyone’s feelings, then I apologise.”

After her apology, Devi stepped down from the stage and left the event.

The incident involving Bhojpuri folk singer Devi occurred on December 25 during a programme at Bapu Auditorium in Gandhi Maidan, Patna, organised to commemorate the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Earlier on Thursday, Rashtriya Janata Dal President Lalu Prasad Yadav condemned BJP leaders for allegedly forcing prominent folk singer Devi to apologise for singing Mahatma Gandhi’s iconic bhajan.

“Yesterday (Wednesday) in Patna, when the singer sang Mahatma Gandhi’s bhajan “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Patit Pavan Sita Ram,” Nitish Kumar’s fellow BJP members created a ruckus. The bhajan hurt the feelings of those (tucche) people who thought it was cheap. Bhajan singer Devi had to apologise for singing this bhajan,” Yadav said.

–IANS

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Kerala Asha workers’ strike enters 13th day, Chennithala says CM can resolve it quickly

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 22 (IANS) Asha Workers are on indefinite strike for the last 13 days in Kerala. They are protesting for better wages and benefits. On Saturday, veteran Congress leader and senior MLA Ramesh Chennithala visited the protest site in front of the State Secretariat here to express his solidarity.

Chennithala called upon Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to intervene and resolve the ongoing strike.

“If CM Vijayan intervenes, this protest could be resolved in just 30 minutes. The government has a responsibility to address this genuine issue, as these Asha workers have been the backbone of the state’s health response during times of crisis — whether it was the Covid-19 pandemic or the devastating floods,” Chennithala said after meeting with the protesters.

Veteran CPI leader and former State Minister C. Divakaran has also said that the demands of these hapless Asha workers are genuine and if CM Vijayan wishes he can resolve it in five minutes.

Around 26,000 Asha workers from across Kerala have been staging a rotating protest, demanding better working conditions and fair compensation.

On Thursday, the association escalated the protest into an indefinite strike, vowing not to return to work until their demands are met.

Zeenath, an Asha worker at the protest site, voiced the frustration saying, “We receive just Rs 7,000 a month. How can anyone run a household on that? When we retire, we get nothing. We are waiting for the government to announce a revised honorarium and a one-time retirement benefit.”

The protesters are demanding an increase in their monthly honorarium from Rs 7,000 to Rs 21,000 plus retirement benefits, and the clearance of pending payments.

What has further fueled their anger is the government’s alleged attempts to intimidate protesters with warnings of “dire consequences” for participating in the strike.

Adding to their frustration were recent government decisions, including a substantial pay hike for members of the Kerala Public Service Commission and an increase in travel allowance for K.V. Thomas, Kerala’s representative in Delhi — announcements that have intensified the workers’ sense of injustice.

–IANS

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Pope Francis suffers bronchospasm episode; under observation now

Rome, March 1 (IANS) The condition of an ailing Pope Francis who is in hospital with double pneumonia took a turn for the worse late on Friday when he suffered breathing difficulties. However quick medical intervention helped him overcome it and he is under observation now.

According to the Vatican, the 88-year-old pontiff had a brief bronchospasm episode which caused him to vomit.

The scare came at a time when Pope Francis was being considered to be out of danger as his condition had been steadily improving.

Pope Francis has been admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital for the last 14 days and after responding well to the treatment being given to him, he suffered a bronchospasm which resulted in “vomiting with inhalation and a sudden worsening of the respiratory picture.”

The Vatican said in a statement that “The Holy Father promptly underwent broncho-aspiration and began non-invasive mechanical ventilation, with a good response on gas exchange” and “Pope Francis remained alert and oriented at all times, cooperating with the therapeutic manoeuvres.”

He is under observation now for the next two days.

Pope Francis was hospitalised on February 14 for breathing difficulties but his condition soon deteriorated into double pneumonia.

The Pope, who is the head of the world’s nearly 1.4 billion Catholics and is equally revered by the Christians across all denominations globally, had part of one of his lungs removed as a young man and has suffered increasing health problems in recent years.

However, despite his age and deteriorating health he has not stopped working from his hospital bed and according to the Vatican News, during this time he has met Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, and Substitute for General Affairs, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra, and authorised the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate various decrees concerning those on the path to sainthood.

The Pope recognised the “offering of life” of the Servants of God, Fr Emil Joseph Kapaun, who served as a United States Army chaplain during World War II and the Korean War, and Italian layman Salvo D’Acquisto.

The “offering of life” is “a new cause for the beatification and canonisation procedure, distinct from the causes based on martyrdom and on the heroism of virtues”, introduced by Pope Francis in 2017 to recognise as saints “those Christians who, following more than closely the footsteps and teachings of the Lord Jesus, have voluntarily and freely offered their life for others and persevered with this determination unto death”.

Pope Francis also recognised the heroic virtues of two diocesan priests and a layperson. He also made some appointments in the Vatican administration.

–IANS

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