KCCI Urges Government to Respond Strictly According to Law and Principles to KCTU's General Strike

Minju Nochong Announces Plans to Proceed with General Strike on the 20th

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Je-hoon] The Korea Employers Federation (KEF) demanded that "the government must strictly respond according to law and principles to the illegal actions of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which has decided to proceed with a general strike on the 20th, in order to stabilize labor-management relations in industrial sites."

In a statement released on the 18th, KEF said, "Amid the current economic difficulties and the worsening youth job crisis, we urge the KCTU, as a responsible social actor, to abandon the outdated practice of repeating ideological struggles and to work together for economic recovery."

KEF pointed out, "In the crisis caused by the spread and prolongation of COVID-19, many companies and workers have shared the pain to protect their workplaces and jobs, but the KCTU refuses to participate and plans to proceed with a general strike while insisting on unilateral demands," adding, "No citizens will sympathize with such a selfish general strike."

KEF continued, "After enduring social and economic hardships for the past one year and eight months due to COVID-19, we are now in a situation where we can expect 'With Corona' thanks to national efforts and increased vaccination rates," and said, "However, the KCTU has violated the government's ban on assemblies and held large-scale illegal rallies across the country, and holding another illegal rally under these circumstances betrays the public's expectation for a return to normalcy."

KEF also urged the government, "Stability in labor-management relations at industrial sites is essential for our economic recovery, but the KCTU is ignoring the economic crisis and insists on carrying out a general strike and illegal rallies," and added, "The government should strictly hold accountable those responsible for illegal acts during the general strike and establish the rule of law in industrial sites."