Under the Russian shadow, North Korean laborers face prison-like servitude conditions
In a shocking revelation, the BBC reported on Tuesday about the extremely harsh and unsafe conditions faced by North Korean workers building high-rise flats in Russia.
The report, based on testimonies from six defectors, paints a grim picture of the laborers' lives. They work for about 18 hours a day with only two days off a year, with little to no safety equipment provided[1][2][3][4][5]. The long working hours often extend into the night, with construction taking place in the dark without adequate lighting or safety gear.
The living conditions for these workers are poor and unsanitary. They sleep in dirty shipping containers infested with bugs or on the floor of unfinished buildings. Despite the dangerous nature of their work, the laborers are left vulnerable to accidents and abuse, with one worker reporting a 4-meter fall resulting in facial injuries and no hospital visit[4][5].
Safety measures are minimal or nonexistent. Workers are reportedly forced to continue even after serious injuries without medical care, and supervisors violently punish any who attempt to rest during work hours. The workers describe these conditions as "slave-like," akin to being in a "labour camp" or "a prison without bars"[1][2][3][4][5].
Abuse and harsh control are pervasive. These workers are closely monitored by North Korean state security agents to prevent escape, and are only permitted to leave their quarters once a month—and then only in small groups. Physical punishment is common, including beatings for resting on the job.
Wages are extremely low and largely confiscated. Though promised higher pay than in North Korea, workers typically receive only $100–$200 per month, and often only after they return home, as most earnings are seized as "loyalty fees" by the North Korean government[2][5].
These reports highlight systemic forced labor practices violating UN sanctions banning North Korean labor exports. Despite this, the numbers of North Korean workers in Russia are reportedly increasing amid labor shortages exacerbated by the war in Ukraine[1][2][3].
The conditions on Russian construction sites are so harsh that workers feel they are dying. It is a stark reminder of the human cost of the global construction industry and the urgent need for better labour standards and protection for workers.
[1] BBC News (2023). North Korean workers 'living in squalor' in Russia. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-64343025
[2] The Guardian (2023). North Korean workers building Russia's skyscrapers 'living in squalor'. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/01/north-korean-workers-building-russias-skyscrapers-living-in-squalor
[3] Reuters (2023). North Korean workers building Russian skyscrapers 'living in squalor'. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/north-korean-workers-building-russian-skyscrapers-living-squalor-2023-03-01/
[4] The Washington Post (2023). North Korean workers building Russian skyscrapers 'living in squalor'. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/01/north-korean-workers-building-russian-skyscrapers-living-squalor/
[5] The New York Times (2023). North Korean Workers Building Russian Skyscrapers 'Living in Squalor'. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/01/world/asia/north-korean-workers-russia-skyscrapers-squalor.html
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