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| Citizens stand in line to take a COVID-19 test at a makeshift testing site in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, March 3. Yonhap |
By Lee Hyo-jin
The recent administrative order from Gyeonggi Provincial Government for all foreign workers in the area to take a COVID-19 test has raised doubts over its effectiveness among local groups representing them.
Amid a series of infection clusters at workplaces involving migrant workers, the local government issued the administrative order, Monday, that all foreign nationals whose workplace is in Gyeonggi Province should get a free coronavirus test by March 22.
It said undocumented foreigners would be able to take the test without the risk of being arrested and deported as they will not be required to submit information about their immigration status.
Those refusing to take the test could be fined of up to 3 million won ($2,600); and if an infection occurs among those who have not been tested during the period, the authorities will demand an indemnity for their relevant quarantine and treatment expenses, according to the order.
However, migrant workers' groups have raised doubts whether the two-week massive testing will actually be able to contain the potential spread.
"Extensive testing may be able to find confirmed patients, but it will not prevent additional outbreaks, which may occur at any time in the current working and living environment for migrant workers," said Lee Young, head of a welfare center for such employees in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.
What is more important than aggressive testing is consistent monitoring of the adherence to antivirus guidelines at workplaces and in cramped dormitories, Lee said, as poorly ventilated factories and densely packed sleeping quarters have been pointed out as infection-prone environments.
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| A street in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, is empty in this March 2 photo, when COVID-19 infection clusters broke out among foreign workers in the area. Yonhap |
Also, migrants working on farms in remote areas may not be able to visit the testing sites during working hours as the testing centers mostly operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lee urged the local authorities to raise the accessibility by extending the operating hours or setting up additional makeshift testing sites.
Another concern is whether the undocumented foreigners, who fear that their status will be revealed, will actually come forward for a test during the next two weeks.
"Although we are encouraging them to get a test saying that their information will only be used for medical purposes, many are worried that the government will later track their location using the contact information they have submitted for the test," Lee said.
Kim Dal-sung, head of a migrant worker' center in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, stated that the authorities should put more efforts in assuring undocumented foreigners that they will not face any disadvantages.
"Without the participation of undocumented workers in the area, the massive testing will not be effective in preventing virus outbreaks," Kim said.
He also suggested that the announcement be translated into multiple languages and spread through social media such as Facebook and Twitter as "they mostly get coronavirus-related information through social media than other channels."
Regarding such concerns, an official at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government told The Korea Times that undocumented foreigners can be assured that they will not be put at any risk regarding their immigration status.
"Regarding implementing flexible operation hours for testing sites, we need to discuss this with the health authorities," he said. "We will put more effort into delivering the announcement on mandatory testing to migrant workers through various platforms."
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