41% of Nationwide Elementary Care Workers Participate in Strike... 65% of Care Classrooms Operating Normally

On the 6th, in front of the main gate of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, participants performed a balloon-popping performance at the "General Strike Rally of Elementary Care Workers to Strengthen the Public Nature of School Care," hosted by the Seoul Branch of the National Education Public Officials Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers' Union. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] It has been revealed that 41% of elementary school care workers participated in the strike demanding the withdrawal of the 'All-day Care Act' and a shift to full-time work. However, due to the responses of metropolitan and provincial offices of education and schools, 65% of all care classrooms operated normally.

On the 6th, the Ministry of Education held an emergency meeting on the elementary care strike organized by the School Irregular Workers Solidarity (hereafter School Irregular Solidarity), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye, to review the 'Elementary Care Operation Plans' prepared by each office of education and school.

The School Irregular Solidarity, which includes the National Education Public Officials Headquarters, the National School Irregular Workers Union (School Irregular Union), and the National Women's Union, held a one-day strike demanding the government and political circles withdraw the 'All-day Care Act' and convert part-time irregular care workers into 8-hour full-time workers.

The union initially expected that more than half of the 11,859 care workers nationwide, over 6,000 people, would participate in the strike, but in reality, 4,902 people (41.3%) participated as of 11 a.m.

The Ministry of Education added that care was normally provided in 7,980 out of 12,211 care classrooms nationwide (65.4%) by filling the care gaps through voluntary support from managerial teachers such as principals and vice principals, as well as operation of community care institutions.

The Ministry of Education expressed regret over the inconvenience caused to parents and students due to the care workers' strike, stating, "We will continue to communicate and cooperate with care unions, teacher organizations, various professional groups, offices of education, and related ministries to continuously improve the quality of elementary care services."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.