This thesis studies the biblical understanding of migrant women workers, international and national law about migrant women workers, the issue and reality of discrimination toward foreign women workers in Korea today this policies regarding migrant wo...
This thesis studies the biblical understanding of migrant women workers, international and national law about migrant women workers, the issue and reality of discrimination toward foreign women workers in Korea today this policies regarding migrant women workers, their human dignity and rights. At the same time it will look at and will propose Church teachings about this issue and pastoral action to assist foreign women workers.
Chapter 1, in the Old Testament, we are reminded that all of us are identified as travelers on God’s earth who stay for a short time like רגֵּ (pilgri- ms) on this earth. in the New Testament, Jesus changes a confrontational and dependent relationship between gender, generations, social class and regional differences to equal and complementary relationships. Also, Jesus identifies himself with a pilgrim (Mt. 5,1-12) and asks us to love our neighbors.
Chapter 2, After the convention on the elimination of discrimination toward women in 1979, the concept of Women’s rights developed in accordance with the feminization of foreign workers in the labor market. But in accordance with the present condition of legislation about migrant women workers in Korea, ‘the international agreement about the protection of rights of migrant workers and their families’ has not yet been approved. Even in the general planning of policy about foreigners that the Korean government arranged in 2011, we can find yet the limitations about the protection of human dignity of foreigners.
Chapter 3, coming into the 21st century, the issue of feminization of migrants in the globalized society is fact especially in Asia where 69% of the migrants are women. Feminization of Migration Labor is found in household chores, factory work, sex industry, etc. Especially, although the sex-trade law was established in 2004, it could only partially control the sex trade because of the inflow of foreign women workers for sex industry. Women from the Philippines, South Asia and Russia who got entertainment visa (E-6) or tourist visa(C-30) enter Korea and are working as prostitutes. Therefore, the program for improvement of the situation of migrant women workers has to be offered as a social alternative which is health care, education, legal advice, shelter, and various services. And a law about ‘the international agreement about the protection of rights of migrant workers and their families’ has to be established as a guarantee of the basic human right of migrant women workers.
Chapter 4, the Instruction about “Christ’s Love for Migrants (Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi)” proposes a new paradigm about the theology of migrants. The conference of representatives of Asian Bishops proposes a change of attitude toward men and women. Through this, a plan of pastoral action with foreign women workers in accordance with the mission of the Church is being proposed
Conclusion, Pope John Paul II showed much concern about women through his Encyclical “Labor and Human Being” and “A Letter to women”. Also, in the first document about “Human Dignity of Women”, the position of women in the Church is being re-stated. The mystery and dignity of women has been seen as an eternal dimension through the history and the work and achievement of the Almighty God in and through women.
Now we need to overcome the limitations of our vision toward them and to live together with them as our sisters. We need to break various obstacles such as gender discrimination, social class, race, religion, cultural discrimination etc. that cut off the relationship between men and women. We have to welcome one another to live in harmony as brothers and sisters for the common good of all. The origin of the plan for pastoral ministry has to be based on human dignity and solidarity. Jesus said, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'(Mt. 25,40).
Therefore, the Church has to strive to work for foreign women workers who are the poorest of the poor in order to continue Christ’s Mission that is a preferential option for the poor and the marginalized.