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22 June, 1999The IMF Central Committee, representing 22 million metalworkers, condemns the Korean government's repression of trade unions.
HELSINKI: Choi Yong-kook, from the Korean Metal Workers´ Federation, and Choi Jong-un, from the Federation of Korean Metal Workers´ Trade Unions, reported to the IMF Central Committee on the situation in South Korea.
They described how the Kim Dae-jung government represses workers' rights and has issued arrest warrants for all union leaders. The IMF made the following statement:
We, the delegates from around the world, support the Korean workers´ struggle and urge the Kim Dae-jung government to:
- recognise the workers´ right to strike;
- release jailed trade unionists;
- withdraw arrest warrants for the KMWF leaders;
- cut working hours to create jobs;
- guarantee the workers´ right to participate in negotiations with the government on economic restructuring;
- participate in negotiations with representative unions.
The two speakers from South Korea asked all trade unions to send protest letters to the Korean government.
They described how the Kim Dae-jung government represses workers' rights and has issued arrest warrants for all union leaders. The IMF made the following statement:
We, the delegates from around the world, support the Korean workers´ struggle and urge the Kim Dae-jung government to:
- recognise the workers´ right to strike;
- release jailed trade unionists;
- withdraw arrest warrants for the KMWF leaders;
- cut working hours to create jobs;
- guarantee the workers´ right to participate in negotiations with the government on economic restructuring;
- participate in negotiations with representative unions.
The two speakers from South Korea asked all trade unions to send protest letters to the Korean government.