Local Governments' Anti-pandemic Measures and Human Rights Movement’s Response
CHAE Min
[Standing Activist of Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights]
Issues regarding the Jeollabuk-do government’s administrative order mandating day laborers to receive PCR tests
In May, the Jeollabuk-do government issued an emergency administrative order that mandates day laborers, both Korean and foreign nationals, to receive PCR tests for COVID-19 at the time of hiring. The order was applicable to “persons who hire day laborers, Korean or foreign nationals, to run business in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, fishery, and livestock industries or owners of manpower dispatch service business”. The order was to be in force between May 17 and June 30, 2021. This meant almost all of day laborers in the Jeollabuk-do region had to take PCR tests.
ㆍ
ㆍ
ㆍ
Need for social conditions that can keep people safe from infectious diseases, not measures that place the blame on people
Even after the incident of the Jeollabuk-do administrative order, discriminatory anti-pandemic measures that mandate PCR tests for specific groups have continued. As the COVID-19 pandemic is prolonged, it is very worrisome that the central and local governments continue to take epidemic control measures in away that singles out certain social groups as problematic groups. When such measures are combined with the long-standing discriminatory social structure in our society, it can further aggravate social discrimination. To address this issue, the central and local governments need to find ways to create a society that is free from discrimination and safe from infectious diseases, rather than resorting to anti-pandemic measures that place the blame on a certain group of people. (Further details are omitted here.)
Local Governments' Anti-pandemic Measures and Human Rights Movement’s Response
CHAE Min
[Standing Activist of Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights]
Issues regarding the Jeollabuk-do government’s administrative order mandating day laborers to receive PCR tests
In May, the Jeollabuk-do government issued an emergency administrative order that mandates day laborers, both Korean and foreign nationals, to receive PCR tests for COVID-19 at the time of hiring. The order was applicable to “persons who hire day laborers, Korean or foreign nationals, to run business in manufacturing, construction, agriculture, fishery, and livestock industries or owners of manpower dispatch service business”. The order was to be in force between May 17 and June 30, 2021. This meant almost all of day laborers in the Jeollabuk-do region had to take PCR tests.
ㆍ
ㆍ
ㆍ
Need for social conditions that can keep people safe from infectious diseases, not measures that place the blame on people
Even after the incident of the Jeollabuk-do administrative order, discriminatory anti-pandemic measures that mandate PCR tests for specific groups have continued. As the COVID-19 pandemic is prolonged, it is very worrisome that the central and local governments continue to take epidemic control measures in away that singles out certain social groups as problematic groups. When such measures are combined with the long-standing discriminatory social structure in our society, it can further aggravate social discrimination. To address this issue, the central and local governments need to find ways to create a society that is free from discrimination and safe from infectious diseases, rather than resorting to anti-pandemic measures that place the blame on a certain group of people. (Further details are omitted here.)