ICFTU Update on Korea

From ICFTU OnLine, 24 January, 1997

Brussels, January 24 (ICFTU OnLine): Here are the latest information concerning South Korea:

• South Korean police have today released four arrested trade unionists after state prosecutors dropped charges against them for leading "illegal strikes" in protest at the anti-worker labour law. A prosecution official said that 15 other outstanding arrest warrants for leaders of the still outlawed Korean Confederation of Trade Unions would be returned to several courts, thus invalidating them. This means that no union leaders are under detention in connection with the strike. Yet some 30 trade union activists are still in jail, including KCTU Vice President, Yang Kyu-heon, who was arrested last February.
• South Korea's strike leaders left Seoul's Myongdong cathedral today after spending almost a month in a makeshift tent on the church grounds directing the strike. But Korean trade unions vowed to continue with weekly strikes on Wenesdays until February 18 when a general strike will be called unless the law in withdrawn. A joint rally by the KCTU and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) is planned for Sunday January 26 to mark one month of struggle against the new law railroaded through parliament on December 26.
• It was announced in Seoul today that Korean banks could be the first in line for layoffs if the new legislation takes effect. The law is supposed to come into force on March 1.
• ICFTU, its Asian and Pacific Regional Organisation (APRO) and ITS are planning another mission to Korea following the two first delegations which visited the country to show solidarity with Korean trade unions.
• The ICFTU and the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC) to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have welcome the statement from the OECD Executive Council released yesterday and which concludes that Korea has not fulfilled the commitment it made upon joing the Paris-based organisation.
• A delegation from the KCTU met yesterday in Geneva with ILO Director general Michel Hansenne. The meeting has been organised by the ICFTU. ILO Director General reportedly told the delegation that the UN agency will keep monitoring the country's new labour law and was ready to help the government revise it so as to make it comply with Korea's obligations in terms of international labour standards. The ICFTU has lodged a complaint with the ILO about the new legislation and the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association will take it up at its March meeting.

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