The problems, which arise from the increase in the numbers of multicultural families, touch on diverse issues such as politics, economy, cultural barrier, and human rights. The government and the local government must realize the various difficulties ...
The problems, which arise from the increase in the numbers of multicultural families, touch on diverse issues such as politics, economy, cultural barrier, and human rights. The government and the local government must realize the various difficulties and problems that multicultural families go through, and should seek policies to prevent or overcome those dilemmas.
When immigrants fail to settle in our society successfully, it can harm our society’s well-being in a long run. Thus, government should actively work on solutions for multicultural families’ problems. ‘The Multicultural Policy’acts as a prevention to stop any discrimination against certain minority groups, to relieve socio-economical conflicts based on diversity, and to guarantee immigrants their basic human rights.
Recently, the number of foreign residents is increasing rapidly. They vary from immigrant spouses, migrant workers, and refugees. The issue of where they stand in our society as well as their treatment rises as an urgent political assignment. Until recently, each bureau has been working independently on foreigner-related procedures. However such ways led to conflicts, overlapping, and absence in our offices. To resolve this issue, a new uniformed procedure called Act on the Treatment of Foreigners in Korea was made.
Also multicultural policy was enacted on March 21st, 2008 and has been put into effect since September 22nd, 2008. The Multicultural Family Support Act helps multicultural families to keep a stable life. Its goal is to improve their quality of life and to integrate them into our society. The main goals include deeper understanding of multicultural families, providing information and educational support, taking action to maintain equal familial relationship, protecting victims of domestic violence, antenatal and postnatal health care along with child care, providing multilingual support, designating Multicultural Family Center, educating government officials working in fields related to multicultural family support, treatment of common-law relationship spouse and children, and funding private organizations.
In Gyeonggi Province, there are about 324,000 immigrants and the number of foreign laborers and immigrants with marriage visa is the highest in the country. Many of them work in a variety of fields such as manufacturing, construction, and service industry. Nowadays, it is not hard to meet a foreign immigrant on a street. Also there are more than 30,000 immigrants by marriage, who have already received their citizenship in Korea. Often times, their children have also got their citizenships, in which case the statistics show over 50,000 cases. Even without these data, we can already sense the influence of the multiracial society.
Gyeonggi Province works more actively than any other provinces to support immigrants and foreign residents. This is because Gyeonggi understands that its potential will be maximized when foreign workers, immigrants by marriage, international students, and professionals can maximize their potential.
For the first time for a local government, Gyeonggi Province operates welfare centers for foreigners in order to help foreigners settle down as a member of our society. Currently, the centers are operated in cities Suwon, Siheung, Namyangju, Ansan, and Hwaseong. In the near future, more will be added in areas with high density of foreign residents like Gimpo. The center provides basic administrative services like language support, healthcare, lifestyle information, and counseling to minimizethe troubles foreign residents may experience. Also it arranges opportunities for foreign residents to participate and socialize with others in the area through volunteer work, cultural life, and bazaar.
Following the ‘General Support Measures for Foreign Residents’ and the motto "Gyeonggi-do in the world with the foreign residents," Gyeonggi province has set its foreign resident policy’s goal as creating appropriate conditions to enter a multicultural society. Other goals include helping foreign laborersto adjust to a new environment more quickly and protecting their legal rights. Also the support for foreign spouses to adapt to our society and to be independent on their own is currently provided as well. Gyeonggi has been funding very generously to raise the standards of life for those immigrants, whether they be migrant workers away from home, foreign daughters-in-law, or students, as well as to reduce any inconveniences they may experience.
Also on December 17th 2009, Migration Research and Training Center (MRTC) –a sector of International Organization of Migration –will open in Goyang, Gyeonggi. This center plans to improve foreigner policies and handle more difficult issues such as the integration immigrants on marriage visa into the society and the management of illegal immigrants.
Many female immigrants on marriage visa work as government employees for multicultural bureau of Gyeonggi Province. They are directly involved in policy making and enforcement. Such involvement of immigrants can greatly increase efficiency and practicality of the policies. To strengthen the support and the implement process, it is necessary to enact Social Integration Act and combine the related laws in a long term. It is also important to set rules and standards for the role of the main enforcers of such policies.
There is a need for distinguishing metropolitan government’s role and municipal government’s role. Metropolitan governments can do what municipal governments cannot do. Metropolitan governments can carry out more complicated strategic projects that require central organization and a large budget. Municipal governments should administer their own multicultural bureau and support their own local policies and develop their own program for foreign residents.
Gyeonggi Province has been investing 100% of its budget on foreign-invested companies, the operation of foreign language programs, honorary fire fighters, the management of 24hours medical care system, the publication of lifestyle information brochure, International Day commemorative event activities, the publication of multicultural family newsletter, and healthcare support for foreign laborers. Out of all those, management of medical care system and providing healthcare for foreign laborers are tasks appropriate for state government since municipal governments cannot carry out such big projects.
Gyeonggi Province must strengthen the communication between each of municipal governments as well as between municipal government and private organizations. Italso should present extensive funding, administrative programs, and a model. Municipal governments should prepare their own policies on foreign residents and run the programs supported by national government and state government in their own districts. To promote private organization’s involvement, the government should also offer incentives such as grants and tax cuts. It should also ensure the balance between the funding for private organizations and the actual effectiveness of those organizations’ projects.
To make a harmonious multicultural society, it is very essential that local citizens change their minds about foreigners. The first step towards it is to throw away the prejudices and look at the foreign neighbors as equals regardless of their color, ethnicity, or religion. Foreign residents too should accept the cultural gap and respect Korean culture as it is.
The government should improve foreign immigrant wives’ adaptability to life in Korea by increasing opportunities for learning Korean language and culture and by supporting basic living needs. Faster adaptation will lead members of the multicultural families to be proud resident of Gyeonggi Province.
In the future, the studies on multicultural families support policies should be studied continuously. And the support for multicultural families will help them discover their own talents and contribute to the improvement of the society.
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