hankyoreh

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) gathered outside the National Assembly on July 18 to announce a general strike to protest what they view as the current administration’s lackadaisical approach to labor reforms and ensuring workers’ rights. One of the KCTU’s major grievances is the expansion of unit periods in the flexible working hour system, which would permit periods of overtime exceeding the 52-hour work week in exchange for reduced hours at other periods. The KCTU also protested the recent minimum wage hike of 2.87%, which they consider too minimal and a violation of President Moon Jae-in’s promise to raise it to 10,000 won (US$8.52) by the end of his presidency. The photo shows KTCU Chairman Kim Myeong-hwan, (front row, center), leading the rally. (Baek So-ha, staff photographer)