Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Rights Expert Alarmed About North Korean Worker Conditions

Ham Ji-ha

   A U.N. human rights expert has expressed concern over the working
   conditions of North Korean workers abroad in response to [1]VOA's
   report that uncovered North Korea's illicit labor activities in
   Senegal.

   "It's quite revealing about this situation of the system that exists in
   North Korea regarding workers abroad," Tomas Ojea Quintana, U.N.
   special rapporteur on human rights in North Korea, said during an
   interview with VOA Korean Service Thursday.

   Quintana said the VOA report reflects that "the system remains as it
   was conceived since the outset."

   Human rights groups have often accused North Korea of [2]sending its
   citizens to foreign countries for forced labor to sustain its economy
   since the inception of the regime. The country is known to violate
   international labor practices when sending workers abroad, putting them
   to work under harsh conditions.

   The VOA report revealed that approximately 30 North Korean workers were
   laboring under poor conditions at various construction sites in the
   Senegalese capital of Dakar in September. The North Koreans were doing
   construction work for private Senegalese companies such as [3]Patisen
   in violation of international sanctions.

   The workers were paid about $120 a month after having to remit a
   significant portion of their salary to the North Korean government,
   according to documents reviewed by VOA. Typically, [4]North Korean
   government takes approximately 70% of workers' salaries.

   The workers were subject to heavy surveillance by North Korean
   authorities while working and off duty. They had limited communications
   with locals, internet access, and ability to travel, according to the
   VOA report.

References

   1. https://www.voanews.com/africa/despite-un-sanctions-north-koreans-work-senegal
   2. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2019/country-chapters/north-korea#81c309
   3. https://patisen.com/en/
   4. https://www.apnews.com/42f4b6e658964fcb83305e7cb19faa47

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