KCCI "Expansion of Illegal Labor Activities... Strict Law Enforcement Needed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Hyun-seok] The Korea Employers Federation (KEF) urged the government on the 8th to strictly enforce the law, stating that illegal activities by labor unions are expanding and recurring in industrial sites.

In a statement released that day, KEF said, "To eradicate illegal activities in industrial sites and establish a cooperative labor-management culture based on dialogue and compromise, strict law enforcement by the government against illegal acts is of utmost importance," adding, "The business community earnestly requests the government to establish the rule of law in industrial sites."

KEF cited examples such as the strike by the Hyundai Heavy Industries union and the occupation of the control center at Hyundai Steel's Dangjin plant by its union. Regarding the Hyundai Heavy Industries strike, KEF explained, "Although the Hyundai Heavy Industries branch agreed to the 2021 collective bargaining on March 5, they overturned the agreement citing the rejection in the union members' vote and proceeded with the strike. During the strike, they illegally occupied major roads within the shipbuilding and engine machinery workplaces at the Ulsan headquarters, obstructing logistics necessary for work, and are demanding additional basic wage increases and bonuses."

Regarding the Hyundai Steel branch, KEF stated, "Since the 2nd, they have illegally occupied the president's office on the 5th floor of the control center at the Dangjin plant, and from the 3rd, they have illegally occupied the plant managers' offices and key executives' offices at five plants, disrupting company operations." They emphasized, "The Hyundai Steel branch is illegally occupying the president's office, demanding that Hyundai Steel pay the same quality bonus of 4 million won, which was given as a reward for the quality improvements achieved by Hyundai Motor and Kia."

KEF pointed out, "Due to the passive response of public authorities to illegal workplace occupations by labor unions, such as the illegal occupation of Hyundai Steel's Dangjin plant control center and CJ Logistics headquarters, illegal activities by labor unions are expanding and recurring," and added, "To eradicate illegal activities in industrial sites and establish a cooperative labor-management culture based on dialogue and compromise, strict law enforcement by the government against illegal acts is of utmost importance." They further stated, "Going forward, the government must not respond lukewarmly to illegal activities in industrial sites under the pretext of labor-management relations."

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