"Jobs Without Discrimination"... Over 10,000 Gather in Downtown Seoul for Labor Day Rally

The "2022 World Labor Day Migrant Workers Rally," commemorating Labor Day and calling for the protection of the human rights of migrant workers in Korea, was held on the 1st across the country in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and other cities. At the rally held in front of the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office, migrant workers from the Philippines, Nepal, Cambodia, and other countries held placards with slogans demanding freedom to change workplaces, implementation of the labor permit system, and guaranteed dormitories where they can live with dignity. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] On Labor Day, May 1st, large-scale rallies demanding non-discriminatory jobs were held one after another in downtown Seoul.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held the "2022 International Labor Day Rally" at 2 p.m. on Sejong-daero in Jung-gu, Seoul, urging, "Guarantee basic labor rights without discrimination and quality jobs without employment insecurity for all workers." Approximately 10,000 people gathered for the rally, which took place on six lanes from Sungnyemun to City Hall. In their declaration, the KCTU demanded ▲ safe workplaces ▲ strengthening publicness in sectors such as public institutions, care, and social services ▲ reinforcement of public pensions. The KCTU plans to march from Seoul City Hall through Euljiro, Jongno, Gwanghwamun, to the Presidential Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, and then hold a closing rally. The International Labor Day rallies were held over two days starting the previous day in 16 locations nationwide, including Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, and Daejeon.

Before the main rally, KCTU affiliates and sectoral pre-rallies were held in various places. The Service Federation and the Democratic General Union held pre-rallies in front of the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation and Hanbit Square at Cheonggyecheon, respectively. The Migrant Workers Equality Solidarity marched from in front of the Seoul Employment and Labor Office to join the main rally. Airport and aviation workers from the Public Transport Union held a struggle rally in front of Bosingak, demanding that "along with the recovery of daily life, the workplace recovery of aviation industry workers must also be achieved."

On the same day, various rallies and events, large and small, took place in the city center. The "420 Joint Struggle Group for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination (420 Gongtudan)," composed of disability, human rights, and labor organizations including Jeonjangyeon, held a disbandment ceremony and a resolution rally for the labor rights of persons with disabilities around Marronnier Park in Daehangno. The group presented three major policy demands for the labor rights of persons with disabilities: ▲ abolition of the toxic clause excluding persons with severe disabilities from minimum wage application under the Minimum Wage Act ▲ nationwide institutionalization of rights-centered, customized public jobs for persons with severe disabilities ▲ comprehensive reform of the mandatory employment system. After the rally, they plan to march from Ewha Intersection to Marronnier Park.