KOTA KINABALU - The lure of high earnings has prompted many Sabahans to travel to South Korea, drawn by the promise of earning up to RM2,000 per week.
However, this opportunity comes with significant risks, as many workers fail to apply for proper work permits and overstay beyond the three-month limit, thus becoming undocumented migrants.
The primary concern arises when accidents or health issues occur, leading to hospitalisation.
In these cases, the absence of insurance coverage and the high medical costs can create severe financial difficulties.
The situation becomes even more complicated if a worker passes away, as returning their remains to Malaysia is hindered by complex documentation issues.
This was the reality shared by Jessy, a 34-year-old Sabahan woman, whose sister fell ill while they were in South Korea.
Jessy described how she and her sister initially went there for tourism but found themselves working in various jobs to support themselves.
"When my sister fell ill and needed surgery, I felt helpless because our original plan was just to enjoy working while traveling. But things turned out differently,” she told Sinar in an interview recently.
Jessy revealed that she and her sister had initially not planned to work in South Korea but were persuaded by the higher wages, which could reach up to RM2,000 per week.
Jessy worked in a variety of roles, including in box factories, sausage factories, robot factories and as a cleaner.
"Within three months, after deducting expenses, I could have earned RM7,000 to bring back to Malaysia. But due to my sister’s illness, the money was all used for her medical treatment,” she said.
Another Sabahan, Eddy Laimin, 27 from Keningau, had a similar experience, but his situation involved more permanent work.
Having worked in South Korea for eight years with a valid permit, he faced challenges, including medical complications linked to the harsh environment.
Eddy, who first went to South Korea in 2018, initially intended to travel but decided to stay after a friend told him about the high wages.
He worked as a welder and obtained a work permit to avoid being an undocumented immigrant.
"However, in March this year, I got an infection in my lungs, likely due to the nature of my job and the environment. I had to be admitted to the ICU, and my medical bills exceeded RM100,000.
"In the end, I decided to return to Sabah for further treatment and took six months off to recover,” Eddy said.
Despite his legal status, Eddy still faced the challenge of high medical costs, which he hadn’t anticipated when he first went to work abroad.
He emphasised the importance of following legal procedures when working overseas.
"Some risks include the possibility of incurring high medical bills if you fall ill, and being alone in a foreign country can be difficult.
"You need strong support from family. I learned that working abroad requires more than just earning money; you must ensure that all legal procedures are followed,” he said.
Eddy also acknowledged the temptation to work without a permit but felt it would be too risky.
"Initially, I thought about working without a permit, but I felt guilty. The risks involved hiding from authorities and being unable to leave or seek help in case of an emergency. That’s why I made the effort to get a permit,” he added.