A Study on Migrant Care Workers in South Korea

Abstract

This article is intended to analyze migrant care workers in South Korea with an aim of understanding the structure of migrant work in the care services. Focusing on care for the elderly and disabled, we conducted secondary data analysis, a survey of relevant institutions and in-depth interviews. The proportion of migrant care workers, while very low in the formal care sector, accounted for almost half of all care workers in the informal care sector. Most migrant care workers in the long-term care institutions and centers for personal assistance for persons with disability were middle-aged female Korean-Chinese. Care service work in the formal sector, within the limited range of employment opportunities available to aged migrant women, is considered a relatively stable job that provides fundamental employment rights. Migrant care workers are constantly exposed to heavy workload, emotionally demanding situations, and a poor working environment, which clearly reflect the current conditions of care work. The improvement of care work should be given policy priority, and there is a need to discuss improvement plans to encourage migrant workers with qualifications and skills to provide care services and work without discrimination or exclusion in the care field.