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Labor Unrest In South Korea

Labor Unrest In South Korea . By Yoshina Hurgobin. Major Actors. Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Companies (Sewon Tech, Doosan Heavy Industries, Hanjin Heavy Industries) Government of President Roh Moo-Hyun. Reasons for Protests . Laws which allow companies to

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Labor Unrest In South Korea

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  1. Labor Unrest In South Korea By Yoshina Hurgobin

  2. Major Actors • Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) • Companies (Sewon Tech, Doosan Heavy Industries, Hanjin Heavy Industries) • Government of President Roh Moo-Hyun

  3. Reasons for Protests • Laws which allow companies to • sue trade union members for loss of production, damaged property after illegal strikes • seize wages and assets from workers • form strategies to break up strikes

  4. More Reasons • Insincere negotiation practices • Wage levels not enough to cover living costs • Wage-freezes when company earning record profits • Top management earning large compensations

  5. Protests • Rally of 35,000 in Seoul on November 9, 2003 • More strikes are being prepared • 3 Trade Union leaders committed suicide (Kim Joo-Ik, Lee Hae-Nam, Lee Yong-Seok)

  6. Reaction of Authorities • President Roh Moo-hyun: “It’s not right for unions to try to resolve problems with illegal violent rallies” • Choi Key-moon, head of National Police Agency: Punish the labor leaders

  7. Link between Roh and Unions • Roh moo-Hyun came to office with support from union movement • Roh had granted sweeping wage and working hour concessions after June 2003 walkouts • Present Government taking a harder line following strikes

  8. Tough Economic Situation • SARS, North Korea’s nuclear arms and Iraq war have already affected Korean economy • SARS has caused slowdown in exports • Bank of Korea revised growth forecast from 5.7% to 4.1%

  9. Consequences • Strikes and labor unrest can worsen situation (industrial output for 2 months has already dropped) • Unions’ frustration with President Roh Moo-hyun’s policies can spread to population • Labor unrest can affect other sectors of economy (Hyundai, Chonhung Bank, Railways already affected by strikes)

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