KOREA, REP: It has been reported that the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, following a decision by its Central Committee, is planning to call a general strike unless its demands for a five-day, 40-hour workweek and the suspension of mass layoffs are accepted by the Korean government.
A trade union official of the KCTU said that 219 trade unions were to have completed strike applications and submitted them to the Ministry of Labour by May 20. These are required by law. Now each union will vote whether or not it will join the general strike, which is expectedly to begin on May 31.
Although the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at first turned down a KCTU request to hold rallies to coincide with the strike, they ended up withdrawing their ban following strong objections from the KCTU.
Source: Korean International Labor Foundation