Latest news with #KoreanConfederationofTradeUnions
Korea Herald
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Umbrella labor group set to begin large-scale strike
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the nation's largest umbrella labor groups, was set to launch a large-scale strike to demand the government adopt a pro-labor act. As part of the two-day strike, scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday, the 1.2 million-strong KCTU will hold a rally at 3 p.m. in Yeouido, western Seoul, and simultaneously stage rallies in 12 other regions. The KCTU estimated that around 10,000 members will take part in Seoul, with a total of 30,000 expected nationwide. Another large-scale rally and march is planned for Saturday in central Seoul. "This is our determined action to guarantee fundamental labor rights for all workers and resolve social inequality," the KCTU said, urging the Lee Jae Myung government to withdraw what it described as anti-labor policies of the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration. The union is demanding revisions to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act, also known as the "yellow envelope law," aimed at limiting companies from making claims for damages against legitimate labor union disputes. The legislation passed the National Assembly twice but was vetoed by Yoon amid opposition from business lobbies and the People Power Party. They argued that the bill would make it difficult for employers to file complaints against illegal strikes by their workers and exempt laborers from liability for participating in them. The KCTU also called for substantial labor reforms to protect the labor rights of platform and special-contract workers and to address deepening inequality. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
02-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Labor group to stage large-scale strike this month
One of the nation's largest umbrella labor groups, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, said Wednesday it will stage a two-day, large-scale strike later this month to demand the government again push for a pro-labor act. Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the 1.2 million-strong KCTU, also called on the government to immediately scrap "anti-labor" policies by the previous Yoon Suk Yeol government. The KCTU said it will stage strike rallies nationwide on July 16, including in central Seoul, followed by another rally and march on July 19. The union also renewed its calls for revisions to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act, also known as the "yellow envelope law," aimed at limiting companies from making claims for damages against legitimate labor union disputes. The legislation passed the National Assembly twice but was vetoed by Yoon amid opposition from business lobbies and the People Power Party. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Kim Young-hoon: Former KCTU head to lead Labor Ministry
President Lee Jae Myung has nominated Kim Young-hoon, a former head of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, as minister of employment and labor. Born in 1968 in Busan, Kim currently works as a locomotive engineer at Korea Railroad Corporation and serves as a public member of the Busan Regional Labor Relations Commission. He previously led the Korean Railway Workers' Union and the Justice Party's labor division. He is expected to play a central role in advancing workers' rights, including reducing industrial accidents, revising the "Yellow Envelope Law," and introducing a 4.5-day workweek. Lee's office said Kim was chosen for his ability to 'break from the previous administration's repressive labor stance' and 'strengthen protections for working people.'
Asahi Shimbun
02-05-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
South Korea's acting president says to ensure stability until election
Several workers from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) attend a May Day rally in Seoul on May 1. (REUTERS) SEOUL--South Korea's third acting president in five months Lee Ju-ho said on Friday he will ensure stable government ahead of a June 3 presidential election, following the quick-fire resignations of the prime minister and finance minister. Hours earlier, Education Minister Lee took over as acting leader, thrusting him into the job of shepherding Asia's fourth-largest economy through the political turmoil triggered by a martial law attempt last year by ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol and the impact of sweeping U.S. tariffs. Lee pledged to work closely with the cabinet and opposition-led parliament which impeached Yoon in December, and to try to stabilize the government. 'I will try my best to ensure government functions are managed stably,' he told reporters. Lee later chaired an unscheduled National Security Council meeting and called for a posture of 'unwavering readiness' in case of possible aggression from neighboring North Korea. Financial markets were preparing for further uncertainty in early trading as authorities vowed to quell any immediate fallout from the resignations of key policymakers, pledging to minimize the impact and maintain round-the-clock monitoring. The South Korean won weakened as much as 0.8% to 1,438.5 per dollar in early trade, its biggest loss since March 19, while the benchmark KOSPI stock index slipped 0.3%. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been serving as acting president before stepping down a day earlier, announced his entry into the presidential race on Friday, hoping to leverage his higher profile after a spell in the leadership role. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok had been set to assume the position of acting president by law before a snap election on June 3 to elect a new leader, but he abruptly quit just before midnight on Thursday. Choi, who has played a leading role in the response to U.S. tariffs, apologised in a statement for not being able to continue his work while the country faces severe economic conditions at home and abroad. The finance minister resigned just before midnight on Thursday as parliament was voting to impeach him over his earlier refusal as acting president to appoint a Constitutional Court judge. The resignation raises questions about the oversight of South Korea's discussions with Washington on looming new tariffs. South Korea's central bank cautioned that U.S. tariffs added to the uncertainty over the path of the inflation rate, which it said was expected to remain around 2% for the time being. The Asian country, which had been considered one of the most powerful success stories of democratic resilience, has faced months of political turmoil since Yoon's ill-fated attempt to declare martial law late last year. Adding to the precarity, a court ruling on Thursday cast doubt on the liberal election frontrunner Lee Jae-myung's eligibility to run for the presidency. The Supreme Court overturned an earlier ruling that had cleared Lee, saying he had violated election law by publicly making 'false statements' during his 2022 presidential bid. It sent the case back to the appeals court and ordered it to issue a new sentence, which could bar Lee from running for office for up to five years. In addition, the candidacy of Han Duck-soo, the former prime minister, has the potential to impact the conservative People Power Party's chance of retaining the presidency, potentially splitting a field that polls show is already far behind Lee. A Gallup Korea survey on April 25 showed that Lee Jae-myung was the favorite to win next month's election with 38%, while former head of the conservative People Power Party (PPP) Han Dong-hoon had 8% and Han Duck-soo was on 6%.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Int'l Labour Day: Huge rally in S. Korea with calls to increase workers' pay
South Korean workers rallied in central Seoul on Thursday (May 1) to mark International Workers' Day, calling for stronger labour rights. The rally, led by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), drew participants who waved flags, held placards, and chanted slogans. Watch here.
