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| A man passes closed stores in Myeongdong, Seoul, March 17. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
By Jung Min-ho
Foreign workers in Korea are asking for universal basic income amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying excluding them from access to the benefit would be a violation of the United Nations human rights treaty.
More than 10,000 people have signed a petition urging the central and local governments to provide financial support to everyone, including all tax-paying foreign workers "who are also suffering" the economic fallout from the crisis.
The petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website followed the Moon Jae-in government's decision to offer "emergency disaster relief money" to low and middle-income citizens in a stimulus program for the faltering economy.
"Foreigners, such as married immigrants, permanent residents and ethnic Koreans who hold citizenship of other countries, have been excluded from the benefit of the anti-disaster basic income, although they pay taxes," the petitioner wrote. "It is discrimination."
The petitioner urged the government to abide by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations in 1966 and by Korea in 1990.
The treaty recognizes "the right of everyone to social security, including social insurance." It also requires the rights to be recognized "without discrimination of any kind as to race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status."
"The anti-disaster basic income should be provided to everyone, according to the treaty," the petitioner wrote. "It is an issue of discrimination because the policy excludes foreigners without specifying why.
"Foreigners are suffering the fallout from COVID-19 just like Koreans. Many foreign residents, including married immigrants, trust the government and are proud of its response … I hope Korea, where people value the virtue of sharing in difficult times, does not discriminate such people."
