The government and ruling party have decided to push ahead with their own version of a bill on irregular workers because labor and business representatives have failed to agree on a version of their own. In response, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU, Minju Nochong) goes on strike Thursday demanding definite protections for irregular workers. Many civic groups are also critical of the bill currently under discussion.
While the process was becoming a confrontation, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU, Han'guk Nochong), which had been cooperating with KCTU, went its own way and produced an independent bill proposal, further complicating the situation. The key point of contention about the legislation is the protection of workers hired for set periods. Labor groups have long demanded that (1) employment periods be only as long as two years, (2), there be limits to when companies can use irregular workers, and (3), that once the two year period is expired that workers be hired without a set time limit, just like regular employees. Then suddenly FKTU issued a proposal that so much on that that KCTU immediately announced it would no longer work with FKTU.
The division among labor organizations is regrettable. The two umbrella organizations have always worked closely together despite having entirely different histories and ways of doing business. They worked together and it was the best way to give labor a stronger voice. Labor as a whole finds itself in a far more difficult position as a result of the breakup. The worry is that the government and ruling party will accept parts of FKTU's proposal and completely exclude KCTU from the process. That was one of the most favorite methods employed by the regimes of the past when they sought to control labor, yet history shows how that caused KCTU to fight back with labor struggles.
The government and ruling party are showing how incompetent they are for having to force the bill along, because one of the original goals of politics is to take opposing views and produce compromise through mediation. At the very least, they should stop using the excuse that the bill is an unavoidable choice made for the sake of irregular workers, especially when they learn how many irregular workers are opposed to their version of the legislation.
The Hankyoreh, 1 December 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Don't Force Irregular Workers' Act Through Assembly |
