hankyoreh

By Kim So-youn 　
　
Damage claims and wage garnishments against labor unions and workers, improper labor activities, and unilateral termination of collective agreements have increased sharply this year, according to Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) data.
According to the reports, which were submitted by the ministry Wednesday to Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker and National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee member, Lee Mi-kyung, the total amount of company damage claims against workers rose nearly sixfold from 12.1 billion won ($10.3 million) in all of 2010 to 7 billion won as of July 2011. The total amount of wage garnishment requests also increased by nearly twelve times from 1.3 billion won in 2010 to 16 billion won this year. KEC, Kumho Tire, Hyundai Motor, and Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction (HHIC) are among the companies that have requested garnishments for damages this year.
A noticeable increase in improper labor activities by employers, such as interference with or disruption of union activity, was also observed. As of July, the number of improper labor activity reports received for the year stood at 459, more than the entire total of 451 received in 2010. If an employer’s activity is recognized as improper labor activity, he or she may face jail time of up to two years or a fine of up to 20 million won, but the cases generally end in small fines.
The unilateral termination of collective agreements, one of the most central elements in labor-management relations, increased by some four times at public institutions. In 2010, unilateral collective agreement terminations were seen at the National Pension Service, Korea Food Research Institute, Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning, and Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI). This year, agreements were terminated at 16 places, including the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology. Over the past three years, the Korea Institute of Construction Technology and KOPRI saw their collective agreements terminated twice.
Lee said, “Unions are having even basic labor rights specified in Constitution suppressed through open efforts by employers.”
“As seen with the unilateral collective agreement terminations, the public sector is leading the way in suppressing unions,” Lee added.
　　
Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]