The government, which has defined the existing official document as “a simple request for opinions”, is careful not to change its attitude
The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Public Transport Workers Union have asked the International Labor Organization (ILO) for an “additional” emergency response in response to the government’s order to start work on general strike of cargo unions. On the 28th of last month, the three organizations also requested emergency intervention from the ILO, and on the 2nd, the ILO delivered an official document to the Korean government stating that “the activity start order violates the international standards”.
According to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, on the 7th, three organizations, including the ITF and the Public Transport Workers Union, sent a letter to the ILO requesting further emergency response under a common name on the 6th. It is unusual that the union requests further action on the same matter.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions said, “The Korean government insists on responding strictly in accordance with the law and principles even before the strike began, and ministers led by President Yoon Seok-yeol and ruling party members issue statements urging anti-union and destruction day by day to criminalize the strike.”Concerned that the behavior of the Korean government is grossly violating not only the strikes of the cargo workers but also the basic labor rights in general, we sent a letter requesting further action to the ILO Secretary-General and the United Nations Special Advocate for Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association.
On the 29th of last month, six days after the general strike of cargo unions, the government issued an order to start work on cargo workers handling cement products.
On the 4th, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choo Kyung-ho declared: “We believe that (the official document of the ILO) is nothing more than a simple inquiry”. On the other hand, trade union circles say the ILO opinion should be taken more seriously as the Korean government ratified ILO Conventions Nos. 87 (freedom of association and right to organize) and n. 29 (prohibition of forced labour).
The Ministry of Employment and Labor has announced that it will “respond in good faith” to the official ILO document. However, it is underlined that the intervention of the ILO “is not a procedure of an official supervisory body such as the Committee on Freedom of Association”.
“The ILO intervention letter is not simply a request for an opinion,” ITF Legal Director General Ruwan Subasinghe, who was in charge of drafting the ILO intervention letter, said in a written interview with a reporter. , ordering the use of ILO advice (ILO interpretation). He also stated: “Devaluing the demand letter is diplomatic rudeness and disrespectful act” and added: “The intervention of the ILO Secretariat is diplomatically very important, even if different from the ‘judgment of the supervisory body’ “.
