Negotiation for Five Day Work System Stopped after Four Hours

Discussions between labor, company and government such as Korean Trade Union (KTU), the Federation of Korean Industries (FOKI) and labor ministry re-opened after four months in order to introduce five day work system.

However it was stopped after four hours as members of Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) tried to enter forcibly in the conference hall.

Representatives of allied industries belonging to KCTU and twenty representatives of different regions such as Seoul, Pusan, Incheon, Gyeongnam province occupied office of chief in committee for labor, company and government (CLCG) located in Youida, Seoul at 12:30 P.M and went on strike.

After that, they went to the conference hall demanding open discussion at 2:30 in the afternoon.

They had severe fight with the police while trying to enter the conference hall and carried out their protest in front of conference hall.

Thereby, Kim Sung-Tae, the secretary director of KTU, Jo Nam-Hong, vice- minister of FOC, Kim Song-Ja, Vice-minister of labor ministry and Ahn Young-Soo, director of CLCG, etc stopped the meeting and went under the protection of police.

KTU delivered the stance of labors at the meeting of labor, company and government which resumed from 11:00 A.M, that they are concerned with payments like salary would be reduced in case work time reduces to 40 hours from 44hours in a week and said that certain measures are needed for maintaining payment.

Participants are reported to have shared opinion on △ non-payment or payment on Sundays△ required work days for adding one day to annual holiday△ time of one day or one week with regard to flexible labor system, etc.

CLCG will reopen the meeting soon and reach to conclusion, after that it will make a final decision by hosting high ranking official conference in which Jang Young-Chul, chief of CLCG, Bang Young- Suk, minister of labor, Lee Nam-Sun, chief of KTU, and Kim Chang- Sung, chairman of FOKI will join.

On the other hand, KCTU insisted on the same day,“ discussion of labor, company and government regarding five day work system which KTU, industry and government are promoting makes this achievement, for which labors protested for reducing labor time, nothing, retreats condition of labor and sacrifices labors who have irregular work hours in minor companies”.

Jin Lee leej@donga.com