"ILO Gijunseo-do Mal Andoenda"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Fair Trade Commission's decision to refer the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Union (Cargo Solidarity) to the prosecution for "obstructing on-site investigations" has been labeled as "labor oppression" by Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who announced plans to propose an amendment to the Fair Trade Act to prevent this.
On the 18th, Park stated on his social media (SNS), "It has been less than a year since President Yoon Seok-yeol took office, but the entire country is regressing due to the application of 19th-century laws," expressing his concerns.
He added, "While claiming to resolve the dual structure of the labor market, the government demonizes workers who work 16 hours a day earning 3 million won a month as 'aristocratic business owners' and cracks down on unions. The government, which is still in its second year and is pleased with a 40% approval rating, can no longer be expected to do anything meaningful," and said, "Even looking at the core conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) ratified by our National Assembly, this makes no sense."
Park said, "The ILO recognizes the freedom of association for all workers. The labor provisions in the free trade agreements (FTAs) we have signed with the United States, the European Union (EU), and Canada stipulate that as ILO member countries, we must comply with these obligations," and criticized, "What are they thinking if a trade dispute arises?"
He emphasized, "Enforcing laws that do not even meet international standards will make the world ridicule us," and stated, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration, which is portraying unions as strange organizations, is currently shaking the foundation of economic democratization," pledging to block the Yoon government through legislation.
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