Korean affiliates protest Yoon administration’s attacks on labour, public services
Mar 21, 2023
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On 25 March, KPTU organised its first large-scale mobilisation for 2023. Over 3,000 members took to the streets to protest attacks on labor and public services by the Yoon administration.
Trade unions rights have been under attack under the Yoon administration. On 18 January, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA) raided Korea Health and Medical Workers Unions (KHMU’s) head office on the grounds of suspicion of violating the National Security Law.
Korean trade unions deem that such a move by the administration is a political strategy to gain popularity by using anti-union sentiment. These blatant attacks on trade union rights also create a favourable environment for regressive labour reforms (such as deregulating working hours and introducing a performance-based or job-based wage system) and restructuring of public services.
Recognising that the right to access public services is a fundamental right of the people, KPTU during the mobilisation called on the government to uphold trade union rights and strengthen public services by taxing big corporations and the wealthy.