Your right to join a trade union

The right to join a union is one of the three constitutional labour rights, and it does not depend on nationality.

The three labour rights

1. The right to organise — to form or join a trade union
2. The right to bargain collectively — to negotiate working conditions with the employer
3. The right to collective action — industrial action following the procedures set by law

What the employer may not do (unfair labour practice)

• Dismissing you or disadvantaging you for joining or taking part
• Making non-membership a condition of employment
• Refusing collective bargaining without justification
• Interfering with or dominating the union

Unfair labour practices can be taken to the Labour Relations Commission for relief.

To join

1. Check whether your workplace has a union.
2. If not, you can join a regional or industry union individually. Some unions specifically support migrant workers.
3. Ask 1350 or a migrant workers' support centre and they will connect you.

Where to go

• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (with interpretation)
• Your regional Labour Relations Commission (unfair labour practice relief)
• 1577-0071 Foreign Workforce Support Centre
• Local migrant workers' support centres
• 1577-1366 interpretation

Questions people ask

Can foreigners join? Yes. The right to join a union does not depend on nationality.

What if I'm dismissed for joining? That can be both an unfair labour practice and an unfair dismissal. Consult 1350 and the regional commission immediately — there is a deadline.

The company is pressuring me not to join. Record the pressure (texts, recordings). It becomes evidence of unfair labour practice.

Can I take part in a strike? You are protected only where the action follows the procedures set by law. Confirm the procedure with the union and 1350 before taking part.

Take care

"Foreigners can't join unions" is simply untrue. That said, industrial action has strict procedural requirements — before joining any action, confirm through the union and expert advice that the procedure is lawful.

Related

collective-agreement · unfair-dismissal · free-labor-consultation · workplace-harassment

Source

Ministry of Employment and Labour www.moel.go.kr / As of 2026-08