2014 Stop slavery! Pocheon African Art musuem in South Korea

Who

4 Sculptors from Zimbabwe (2005/2009~)

12 Musicians/Dancers from Burkina Faso (2012. April ~ 2014. Jan)

- 4 people : Stopped working and escaped from the museum (2014. Summer, Fall)

- Professional Artist (Approved by National Ministry of Arts)

- Auditioned directly by Korean Director in Burkina Faso

African art museum in Pocheon

- One of three africa art museum in South Korea- 규모- 1박 2일

Violations of labor law

1. Violated the Minimum Wage Act.

According to the 2013 standard,

Zimbabwean workers should receive 1,269,154 won and Burkina Faso’s workers 1,055,893 won.

However, the museum only paid 650,000 won and 600,000 won each.

2. The museum ordered forced Labor and saved a part of the workers’ wages

unilaterally and would return it to them only at the airport.

3. Deducted the airline ticket prices from the wages unilaterally.

4. The museum didn’t granted the basic labor conditions assured by the law

- No additional wages for extended work

- No annual paid leave

- Dormoritories were way below the standards

Violations of human rights

For a Meal

- 2,500 won per day

- After the meeting with the President Mr. Hong,

4,000 won per day

- Expired rice

- Museum said “By 1 dollar, You can eat in Africa.

With the money converted, it is much for you.”

For a Dormitory

For a Dormitory

- Museum said “In Africa, you sleep

with many people in a room together.”

Violations of human rights

For a Workers’ Compensation

- One dancer’s both knees were dislocated when

she was dancing in this museum.

- For 1 month, museum give her the half of the

salary because she didn’t work.

- Museum make her sit with the big african turtle in

front of the african woman statue. That time, visitors

were surprised and said to her,

“Wow, Real African Turtle! and Real African

woman!”

Violations of human rights

Confiscated passports

- After four burkinabe artist stopped working in the

museum, museum had demanded other burkinabe’s

passport strongly.

- After the contract finished, musuem didn’t give

passports back to them despite the persistent

request.

2013. 8. Just Try!

- Collect the basic data (contract translation, Photo and videos, Interview..)

2013. 8 ~ 12. Meeting with activists, public labor attorneys

- Meeting with 4 counseling centers for migrant workers for 4 months.

- About E-6(Artist) Visa, More complicated issue

- Make a Effective data for the labor law

2013. 12. Make a actual plan with MTU

- Actual plan of negotiating with the Musuem

- Make a cooperation with other activists

- Agreement of the future plan in african artists

2014. 1. 31. Burkinabe Contract finished

2014. 2. 4. Museum said “We don’t continue with Burkinabe”

2014. 2. 10. “Stop Slavery” 1st Press Conference

2014. 2. 12. Make a agreement between Museum and African artists

African Migrant Artworkers

Bridge

Thank you