Human rights of North Korean migrant workers: Opportunity to work or risk of forced labour?

There is growing concern over the human rights situation of North Korean migrant workers. Related to the labour system under North Korea’s socialist planned economy, whereby the authorities have direct control over allocation of the labour force, the issue is also relevant to each host country’s pro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Netherlands quarterly of human rights 2017-03, Vol.35 (1), p.51-68
Main Author: Rim, Yejoon
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Forced labor
Human rights
International cooperation
International law
Labor force
Labor law
Migrant workers
Planned economy
Slavery
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Summary:There is growing concern over the human rights situation of North Korean migrant workers. Related to the labour system under North Korea’s socialist planned economy, whereby the authorities have direct control over allocation of the labour force, the issue is also relevant to each host country’s protection of the rights of migrant workers. This article examines the human rights conditions of North Korean migrant workers, and assesses whether their situation amounts to slavery and forced labour from the perspective of international law. Through analysis of North Korea’s Socialist Labour Law and the country’s regime, which frames its labour structure, this article seeks to determine the root causes of the situation—and ultimately to invoke international cooperation for amelioration of the human rights of these workers.
ISSN:0924-0519
2214-7357
DOI:10.1177/0924051917693973