Half of Companies in Their 50s "Have Experienced Illegal Activities in Industrial Sites"

KCCI Survey of Top 50 Major Companies
"Rapid and Strict Enforcement of Public Authority Needed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] On the 24th, as the Public Transport Workers' Union Cargo Solidarity Headquarters (Cargo Solidarity) launched a general strike, it was revealed that half of the top 50 companies have experienced illegal acts by labor unions. Companies expressed difficulties in this situation and called for swift and strict enforcement of public authority.

The Korea Employers Federation conducted a survey on the perception of illegal acts in industrial sites among its member companies within the top 50 major companies over the past six years (2017?2022).

It was found that 50.0% of companies experienced illegal acts. Illegal acts in industrial sites were broadly classified into six types: ▲workplace occupation ▲public facility occupation ▲work obstruction ▲high-altitude sit-ins ▲illegal acts such as violence and property damage ▲illegal assemblies and protests.

Among the types of illegal acts, ‘work obstruction’ (22.5%) was the most common, followed by ‘illegal protests (unreported assemblies, etc.)’ (12.5%), ‘workplace occupation’ (7.5%), ‘unauthorized entry into workplaces’ (5.0%), and ‘high-altitude sit-ins’ (2.5%).

Regarding the most urgent measures to eradicate illegal acts, ‘swift and strict enforcement of public authority’ (45.0%) was selected first. Next were ‘improvement of unbalanced labor-management relations laws and systems’ (37.5%) and ‘strict judicial rulings on illegal acts’ (22.5%).

On the tasks for legal and institutional improvements to eradicate illegal acts, companies pointed out the urgent need for improvements such as ‘improvement of unfair labor practices system (establishment of unfair labor practices by labor unions, etc.)’ (32.5%) and ‘complete prohibition of workplace occupation’ (30.0%).

Jang Jung-woo, Head of the Labor-Management Cooperation Headquarters, stated, "Labor movements in our country have developed more confrontationally and combatively compared to major advanced countries," adding, "Especially during dispute actions, illegal acts often accompany beyond simple refusal to provide labor."

Head Jang emphasized, "The response that swift and strict enforcement of public authority is the most necessary measure to eradicate illegal acts in industrial sites means that public authority must operate more swiftly and strictly against illegal acts by labor unions," and added, "For labor-management stability, the government's role and legal and institutional improvements such as complete prohibition of workplace occupation and improvement of the unfair labor practices system are important."

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