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Ø What is the general history of Koreatown and the Korean community in Southern California? Ø
Is there a significant low-wage worker population in the
Korean community? There
is nearly a half million Korean residing in and around Los Angeles County.
According to the 1990 Census, 25% of the Korean community are
involved in small businesses. KIWA’s experience indicates that nearly 30% of the Korean
community are low-wage workers. Lack
of jobs, language barriers, and discrimination force many Korean immigrants
to turn to the ethnic enclave economy of Koreatown for employment where
competitive low-paying industries, like garment and service, tend to
prevail. Poverty in Koreatown
is perpetuated by sub-standard wages and working conditions of the small
business sector. In addition to
Koreans, approximately 30% of Koreatown’s labor force is low-wage
Latino/as. There is also a
growing number of Korean ethnic workers from China. Ø
What kinds of services does KIWA provide? As
part of the Workers’ Empowerment Clinic, KIWA provides legal assistance to
workers in Koreatown on work-related problems, such as unpaid back wages,
overtime, and workplace injuries. Ø
Does
KIWA help only Korean workers?
KIWA’s primary mission is to help all immigrant workers from
underrepresented communities on both a local and international level.
To this end, it has worked to mobilize both Korean and Latino workers
in the Koreatown restaurant industry. Ø
How
can KIWA help undocumented workers? Ø
How
is KIWA different from labor unions? Ø
Why
do we need an organization like KIWA in Koreatown? Ø
How
is KIWA funded? Ø Does KIWA only challenge unfair employer practices in Korean-owned businesses? Ø
Does
KIWA get involved in non-labor issues in the Korean community?
KIWA has engaged in
various social justice projects in collaboration with other groups on both a
local and international level. Among
other things, KIWA has served as a member of Coalition L.A.’s steering
committee to raise voter awareness and to promote greater collaboration with
other underrepresented communities in order to have a stronger impact on
electoral politics. KIWA also
helped to raise over $10,000 as a member of the National Network for North
Korean Hunger Relief. As a
member of the API Police Advisory Council, KIWA continues to monitor police
misconduct and to improve police services to the growing monolingual
population of Los Angeles. In
the past year, KIWA has also worked with other API groups and (?) in
challenging recent attacks against the rights of gays and lesbians through
legislation such as Proposition 22. Ø What's KIWA working on now? KIWA is now currently working on fighting for justice for market workers in Korean markets in Los Angeles. Though Korean markets in L.A. have an annual income/profit equal to that of mainstream markets such as the Ralphs down the block, Korean market workers are paid only minimum wage without benefits.
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