South Korean workers plan another strike

March 19, 1997
Issue 

By Eva Cheng

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) may call another general strike in May to force the Kim Young-sam government to remove repressive new labour laws.

In a deal struck between the ruling parties and the parliamentary opposition on March 8 — which became law on March 12 — the previously outlawed KCTU was recognised and the ban on more than one union organisation per industry will be lifted in 2002. However, the government refused to back down on other changes that seriously undermine workers' conditions and job security.

From 1999, employers will be able to sack workers at will. Previously, lay-offs had to be scrutinised by a court, which employers found inconvenient and costly. Under the cover of "flexible hours", the bosses are now able to force workers to work irregular and dangerously long shifts, without being entitled to overtime payments.

Bosses will no longer be liable to pay workers while they are on strike, making it much harder to mobilise workers for collective action. Employers' previous obligations to set aside secured funds to meet workers' retirement payments will also be significantly eased. The ban on teachers and government employees forming trade unions will continue.

The government's formal recognition of the KCTU is of only symbolic importance given its leading role in working-class struggles over the past few months. Hundreds of thousands of workers in key industries took part in more than 20 days of general strikes called by the KCTU in December and January.

Industrial action was suspended on January 21 after the government agreed to re-examine the much-denounced labour laws. Between February 26-28, the KCTU launched a series of protest actions, including a four-hour strike, to apply pressure on both opposition and ruling parties as amendments were discussed.

Yet the bosses are still not happy. They criticise the amended laws for hindering Korea's "competitiveness" in the global market. On March 11, the Federation of Korean Industries reaffirmed its earlier decision that member companies not grant pay rises to workers this year — not even nominal, pre-inflation adjusted amounts.

The next day, the KCTU recommended that affiliated unions seek an average wage rise of 10.6% in this year's wage bargaining round, due to start shortly. The KCTU recommended a goal of 14.8% last year. Chairperson Kwon Young-gil said the goal has been lowered this year because of the difficulties currently facing the economy, but vowed that the KCTU would put pressure on the government to improve social security, reduce taxes burden and increase the minimum wage.

On March 12, bus unions in Seoul and five other cities threatened to launch a joint strike if their demand for a 15.7% pay rise is not met. They set March 25 as the deadline and are planning a work-to-rule protest from March 21.

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