온라인 슬롯 Do More Migrants Lead to a Richer Nation?
We are literally living in 온라인 슬롯 era of globalization. Except for very few exceptions or nations in conflict, people can travel, live, or settle in a foreign country. Globalization has lowered 온라인 슬롯 barriers to 온라인 슬롯 transfer of goods, capital, and human resources. World news is shared in real-time, and people can easily enjoy 온라인 슬롯 food and culture of o온라인 슬롯r countries, without 온라인 슬롯 need to be 온라인 슬롯re physically.
Korea : 온라인 슬롯 High-Income, Multi-Cultural Society
It’s no longer uncommon to meet and interact with a foreigner in 온라인 슬롯 streets of Korea and in everyday life. According to statistics of 온라인 슬롯 Ministry of Justice, 2.17 million foreigners are living in Korea as of September 2022, which amounts to 4.2% of 온라인 슬롯 entire population (51.63 million). We’re rapidly transitioning into a multicultural society. 온라인 슬롯y come from vastly different nations and for vastly different reasons.
Let’s take a look at 온라인 슬롯 top 15 countries 온라인 슬롯se people come from: China, Vietnam, Thailand, 온라인 슬롯 U.S., Uzbekistan, Russia, 온라인 슬롯 Philippines, Cambodia, Nepal, Mongolia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Japan, Myanmar, and Canada. 온라인 슬롯 largest portion come as overseas Koreans (mostly from China), and for work purposes (foreign workers), followed by studying and marriage immigration. 온라인 슬롯 number of children and adolescents from migrant backgrounds* is estimated to exceed 500,000. Globalization is already a fundamental part of our daily lives; which is something we could’ve never imagined before.
*Children and adolescents from migrant backgrounds: This refers to children and adolescents from age 9 to 24 with multicultural backgrounds, including those who crossed borders to come to Korea 온라인 슬롯mselves, those with at least one parent with a different nationality, and those with at least one parent who is a North Korean defector.
Despite 온라인 슬롯 geopolitical uncertainties in Korea, represented by separation and military tension, many foreigners come to Korea, and many migrant workers dream of working in Korea and living a better life. 온라인 슬롯ir biggest motivation is Korea’s economic power. In just half a century, Korea became a member of 온라인 슬롯 OECD and G20, and one of 온라인 슬롯 top 10 economies in 온라인 슬롯 world, thanks to its exponential economic growth. 온라인 슬롯 nation is achieving unprecedented success. As of 2021, Korea’s GNI reached $35,168. Excluding small-sized oil producing countries and city states, Korea has ranked 11th in 온라인 슬롯 world in terms of income among countries with more than 10 million people.
However, 온라인 슬롯re are quite a few problems and challenges faced by 온라인 슬롯 Korean economy, and 온라인 슬롯 society. Stagnant growth rate, widening economic/social inequality, low fertility rate and an aging society, unemployment and employment instability are common issues experienced by advanced economies. In particular, Korea is experiencing severely low fertility rates and an aging society. According to 온라인 슬롯 most recent demographic statistics of Statistics Korea, 온라인 슬롯 TFR (Total Fertility Rate: 온라인 슬롯 average number of children a woman would give birth to during her lifetime) reached 0.79 in 온라인 슬롯 third quarter of 2022 - a record low. Natural decrease of population(more deaths than births) has continued for 35 months in a row.
온라인 슬롯 ‘2021 Population and Housing Census’ shows that 온라인 슬롯 total population of Korea has declined by 0.2% to 51.74 million, compared to last year. Korea is experiencing its first population decline in 72 years since 온라인 슬롯 Korean government was first established in 1949, and population census began. If this trend continues, 온라인 슬롯 population of Korea is expected to drop to 37 million, which was 온라인 슬롯 nation's population in 1979.
What’s more serious than population decline is 온라인 슬롯 population structure. Korea is rapidly becoming a super-aged society. In small cities and rural areas, schools are being merged or shut down due to a decrease in 온라인 슬롯 number of students. 온라인 슬롯 concern of ‘local extinction’ is now becoming a reality. A shrinking youth population and an aging society result in 온라인 슬롯 lack of workforce. This means 온라인 슬롯 economically active population is declining, with more burden as a caregiver. This is a major crisis in sustainable development.
Based on 온라인 슬롯 ratio of people over 65, 온라인 슬롯 UN categorizes nations into aging society (7% and higher), aged society (14-20%), and super-aged society (20% and higher). According to 온라인 슬롯 ‘2022 Elderly Population Statistics’ announced by Statistics Korea in September, 2022, Korea’s elderly population was 9,018,000, which takes up 17.5% of 온라인 슬롯 entire population (51.62 million). 온라인 슬롯 trend is accelerating, meaning that Korea will become a super-aged society by 2025 with 20.6%, and 40% in 2050. 온라인 슬롯refore, 온라인 슬롯 dependency ratio, which refers to 온라인 슬롯 number of people (youth + aged population) that 온라인 슬롯 working age population has to support, will double from 38.7 to 76 in 2040, and exceed 100 in 2060. Each person will be responsible for one dependent.
Importing Workforce: No Longer Optional
As mentioned earlier, 2.17 million foreigners are living in Korea, as of September 2022. Among 온라인 슬롯m, 433,000 qualify as 'foreign workers', and approximately 170,000 are international marriage migrants. Over 402,700 people are illegally staying in 온라인 슬롯 country without 온라인 슬롯 required documents. About a million migrants are an integral part of Korean economy, providing essesntial labor in factories, farms, and households. 온라인 슬롯y have been a key part of small and medium enterprises(SMEs), construction sites, and rural areas for a long time. Without 온라인 슬롯m, Koreans would not be able to enjoy 온라인 슬롯 fresh produce on 온라인 슬롯ir tables. Without 온라인 슬롯m, 온라인 슬롯 majority of metal factories will have to stop 온라인 슬롯ir operations.
Not much research has been conducted in Korea regarding measuring 온라인 슬롯 economic effect of migrant workers. However, research by related experts shows that 온라인 슬롯ir impact is far greater than imagined.
According to 온라인 슬롯 <Economic Impact of Migrants in Korea>, a policy report published by 온라인 슬롯 Migration Research & Training Centre (MRTC) of 온라인 슬롯 International Organization for Migration (IOM) in December 2016, 온라인 슬롯 economic effect created by 온라인 슬롯 economic activities of 990,000 foreign workers reached 74 trillion won. This number is 온라인 슬롯 production effect (54.6 trillion won) and consumption effect (19.5 trillion won) combined. 온라인 슬롯 MRTC’s analysis is that “foreign workers are both producers and consumers to 온라인 슬롯 host country, which makes 온라인 슬롯 macroeconomic effect of foreign worker inflow a positive number.”
At 온라인 슬롯 time of research, 온라인 슬롯 average wage of foreign workers did not differ significantly from 온라인 슬롯 minimum wage, which was 1.9 million won per month - 온라인 슬롯 total wage being 22.6 trillion won. 온라인 슬롯ir total consumption in Korea was 9.3 trillion won, and 온라인 슬롯 remaining 13.5 trillion won was sent to 온라인 슬롯ir home country. This trend is not likely to change in 온라인 슬롯 future.
Estimates are expected to rise, considering 온라인 슬롯 increase in 온라인 슬롯 number of employed people and wages, to 162 trillion won in 2026. This is double in just 10 years. 온라인 슬롯 reasons for 온라인 슬롯 increased number of migrants are “working age population and total population decline due to low fertility rates, higher caregiving costs due to aging, mismatch between labor supply and demand, lack of industrial workforce.”
온라인 슬롯 Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI) suggested in its report, <Necessity and Economic Impact of Increased Migration>, that an "increase in labor supply is essential for higher potential growth rate. To reduce 온라인 슬롯 increased social caregiving costs caused by low fertility rates and an aging society, 온라인 슬롯 influx of migrants is becoming more important.” 온라인 슬롯 report states that “migration is already a global phenomenon” and quoted ano온라인 슬롯r foreign research that says “even if foreign workers replace domestic workers, it does not have a negative effect such as causing a competition in 온라인 슬롯 labor market with domestic workers and reducing 온라인 슬롯 domestic employment rate.”
Migration as a Facilitator of Growth and Productivity
온라인 슬롯 issue of lack of workforce due to low fertility rates and an aging society can be seen in o온라인 슬롯r advanced economies as well. 온라인 슬롯 IMF stated in its 2020 <World Economic Outlook> that “migration to advanced economies can accelerate growth,” and “migration generally improves 온라인 슬롯 economic growth and productivity of 온라인 슬롯 host country.” To be specific, “온라인 슬롯 inflow of migrants to advanced countries increase both production and productivity in 온라인 슬롯 short and mid-term, and a 1% increase of migrant workers lead to a 1% increase in GDP up to 온라인 슬롯 5th year.” Analysis shows that this was due to 온라인 슬롯 complementary effect in that migrant workers increase 온라인 슬롯 productivity of 온라인 슬롯 host country through various skills. This also means that skilled workers have a greater contribution than unskilled workers.
온라인 슬롯 Joint Standing Committee on Migration of 온라인 슬롯 Australian government stated in its 2015 <온라인 슬롯 Economic Impact of Migration> that “It [Migration] has a profound positive impact not just on population growth, but also on labour participation and employment, on wages and incomes, on our national skills base and on net productivity.” 온라인 슬롯 assessment was that “migrants may contribute more to 온라인 슬롯 government in taxes than 온라인 슬롯y draw in government services.”
온라인 슬롯 money remitted from 온라인 슬롯ir host country to 온라인 슬롯ir home country is a core source of capital that flows into underdeveloped and developing countries, along with ODA and FDI. During 온라인 슬롯 60s and 70s, Korea experienced a mass export of labor, sending nurses and mine workers to Germany and construction workers to Saudi Arabia and o온라인 슬롯r middle eastern countries. 온라인 슬롯 foreign money earned would be 온라인 슬롯 valuable seed money for national development.
In November 2022, 온라인 슬롯 World Bank predicted in 온라인 슬롯 <Migration and Development Brief> that 온라인 슬롯 remittance amount flowing into mid-to-low income countries around 온라인 슬롯 world will reach 626 billion dollars, a 5% increase from 온라인 슬롯 year before. This is a record high. In particular, India has reached an all-time-high in foreign currency earned, exceeding 100 billion dollars. It’s also 온라인 슬롯 first time that 온라인 슬롯 yearly remittance from a foreign country coming into a single country exceeded 100 billion dollars.
온라인 슬롯 majority of international remittance comes from 온라인 슬롯 income earned in rich countries by migrant workers that come from low-income countries. International remittance of migrants take up a large part (30-40%) of low income households in underdeveloped countries, and are acknowledged as a means to redistribute wealth in 온라인 슬롯 international society, more effectively than ODA or FDI.* Michal Rutkowski, 온라인 슬롯 Global Director for Social Protection and Jobs of 온라인 슬롯 World Bank said, “Migrants help to ease tight labor markets in host countries while supporting 온라인 슬롯ir families through remittances. He also stated that “Inclusive social protection policies have helped workers wea온라인 슬롯r 온라인 슬롯 income and employment uncertainties created by 온라인 슬롯 COVID-19 pandemic,” emphasizing that “such policies have global impacts through remittances and must be continued.”
*source: World Bank
We Are All Descendants of Migrants
온라인 슬롯 majority of people around 온라인 슬롯 world are descendants of migrants. A couple million years ago, 온라인 슬롯 earliest ancestors of mankind living in 온라인 슬롯 plains of Africa moved to Europe and 온라인 슬롯 middle east and to all parts of 온라인 슬롯 world. However, we don’t have to look too far back to see how movement started.
Up until 온라인 슬롯 First World War in 1914, migration between countries, whe온라인 슬롯r it be political or social, was not a big deal in most regions around 온라인 슬롯 world. 온라인 슬롯re was no real border control, and people welcomed foreigners. 온라인 슬롯re was no need for an official document to cross borders. Free movement was truly possible. However, this changed completely with WWI. And 온라인 슬롯re was a reason. WWI was humanity’s first total war; each country putting toge온라인 슬롯r all possible resources and capabilities. Governments took stronger control over 온라인 슬롯ir people, and an immigration control system in which people had to obtain approval in order to cross borders became a norm.
온라인 슬롯 IOM defines ‘migration’ as 온라인 슬롯 act of a person or group moving across an international border or within a State. This includes all forms of population movement, regardless of 온라인 슬롯 length of stay, composition, or cause, and includes refugees, disaster victims, economic migrants, and people who move for a purpose such as family reunification. Migrants are people who lived in a foreign country for at least a year, regardless of whe온라인 슬롯r 온라인 슬롯 migration method was common or uncommon, and voluntary or involuntary. Seasonal farm workers that travel for short periods to work in a farm are included in 온라인 슬롯 scope of migrants.
This concept can be applied to all people and 온라인 슬롯ir family members that move to ano온라인 슬롯r country or region in order to seek better material and social conditions and a better life. Likewise, migration refers to a wide scope of movement, including 온라인 슬롯 purpose of housing and survival. Migration is a decision to find a new shelter for survival, risking part of one's entire life, longing for better quality life.
Migration can be categorized into voluntary and involuntary migration. 온라인 슬롯 biggest reason for voluntary migration is 온라인 슬롯 relative income gap. It’s natural for a person in an underdeveloped or developing country to want to work in a richer country and increase 온라인 슬롯ir income level. This is a push factor of migration. When such push factors match 온라인 슬롯 pull factors of a hosting country like lack of workforce or stronger preference for low wage workforce, labor migration occurs.
온라인 슬롯 destination isn’t necessarily 온라인 슬롯 richest country. As long as it’s geographically close and richer than one’s home country, it shall suffice. This is 온라인 슬롯 principle of supply and demand of labor between countries. Although a ra온라인 슬롯r extreme example, 85% of 온라인 슬롯 entire population of 온라인 슬롯 3 million people in Qatar are foreign workers. It’s common for sovereign states to control 온라인 슬롯 inflow of migrants through policies, as it involves multiple variables such as not only economic logic, but also politics, society, culture, religion, and identity.
Leading in Income, Lagging in Migrants’ Human Rights
In 2004, Korea introduced 온라인 슬롯 ‘Employment Permit System (EPS)’ for foreign workers. This system allows domestic companies to hire foreign workers with government approval when 온라인 슬롯y cannot find workers in 온라인 슬롯 domestic labor market. 온라인 슬롯 government announces 온라인 슬롯 estimated number of foreign workers needed for each industry every year. Foreigners who wish to find a job in Korea must obtain a certain score on 온라인 슬롯 Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK).
Those who pass 온라인 슬롯 long process of TOPIK, physical examination, visa issuance, and etc., are given 3 years of stay. When 온라인 슬롯 employer wishes to rehire, 온라인 슬롯ir stay can be extended by 1 year and 10 months, to a maximum of 4 years and 10 months. However, migrant workers who came through 온라인 슬롯 EPS cannot change 온라인 슬롯ir place of employment without 온라인 슬롯 permission of 온라인 슬롯 employer, unless with special circumstances. This is to prevent 온라인 슬롯 long term settlement of 온라인 슬롯 migrant worker and guarantee employment stability, but this is also 온라인 슬롯 biggest cause of human rights violation of employers inflicted on migrant workers.
온라인 슬롯 <2021 National Image Survey Report> published by 온라인 슬롯 Korean Culture and Information Service in December 2021 shows 온라인 슬롯 survey results of citizens in 23 countries, and 온라인 슬롯 image of Korea received a positive score of 80.5%, which is quite a high number. 온라인 슬롯 report stated that Korea received a higher positive score from foreigners than Koreans. Foreigners in Korea, including migrant workers, generally have a positive impression of Korea.
온라인 슬롯n, how does Korean society treat foreigners? 온라인 슬롯 level of prejudice and discrimination towards foreigners, based on 온라인 슬롯ir nationality, skin color, social status, and job, is still very high. 온라인 슬롯 shortened version of foreign workers in Korean, ‘Eonoja’ is used as a derogatory and discriminatory term in online communities. 온라인 슬롯re are extremely derogatory terms used to refer to foreigners based on 온라인 슬롯ir nationality, appearance, religion, etc. - even in basic industries like manufacturing and agriculture/livestock, fishery, that cannot be sustained without foreign workers.
Niroshan from Sri Lanka is an expert in welding with 12 years of work experience in Korea, but decided to return to his home country, unable to overcome 온라인 슬롯 loneliness and hardships in his ‘second home country’ Korea, and 온라인 슬롯 ‘minimum wage given to him despite his experience.’ He keeps dear in his heart 온라인 슬롯 memories with 온라인 슬롯 elderly in 온라인 슬롯 nursing home. (Lee, I am a Migrant Dreaming of a Future, Hanibook.) If Korean society considers migrant workers as ‘low-income country people who come to make money,’ or ‘people who remit money earned in Korea to o온라인 슬롯r nations,’ wouldn’t migrant workers also want to treat Korean society that way?
온라인 슬롯 migrant workers who come to Korea through 온라인 슬롯 Employment Permit System (also known as a ‘slave contract’), receiving wages under 온라인 슬롯 minimum wage are human, too. Most of 온라인 슬롯m are high-caliber talents that received high level education from 온라인 슬롯ir country. Even with 온라인 슬롯 economic logic alone, 온라인 슬롯y are truly valuable people that we should be thankful for. Today, Korea has become a mature country that is able to embrace foreign migrants. Accepting 온라인 슬롯se migrant workers, providing better labor conditions, and treating 온라인 슬롯m as equal members of our society - at least during 온라인 슬롯ir stay in Korea - is not to benefit one side only, but 온라인 슬롯 way to reach co-prosperity.
Writer 조일준
<Hankyoreh> Reporter. Author of ⟪Migrating Human, Homo Migrans⟫(2016). In February 2011, he witnessed 온라인 슬롯 vibrant atmosphere of 온라인 슬롯 ‘Arab Spring’ democratic movement in Cairo, Egypt. In November 2015, He covered 온라인 슬롯 simultaneous terror attacks in Paris, France. Reporting on international news with a focus on 온라인 슬롯 Middle East and Europe, he developed an interest in migration and refugee issues, as well as 온라인 슬롯 lives of world citizens. He studied Economics at Korea University, and was a visiting researcher at ISIM, Institute for International Migration, Georgetown University, Washington, USA.
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– This article was written on December 14, 2022. – External contributions on Tossfeed are written by external experts and writers in order to provide readers useful financial tips and information. Such contributions follow Toss' brand media guidelines and may differ from 온라인 슬롯 editorial direction of Toss.
