TUAC - TRADE UNION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE OECD

06/04/2016

[This paper, first published on 4 March 2016, was revised following a visit of a TUAC Secretariat staff in Korea 8-11 March organised by the FES office in Seoul.]

On 11 December 2015, Han Sang-gyun, President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD’s (TUAC) Korean affiliates alongside the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), was arrested by police forces after a month stay in the sanctuary of a Buddhist temple. Han San-gyun is accused of “obstruction of traffic” during demonstrations held in April & May 2015 to commemorate the tragedy of the 2014 sinking of the Sewol Ferry. Han Sang-gyun could face up to 10 years in prison. His trial is expected in May 2016.

Meanwhile, the relations between the FKTU and the government have recently broken down. “There’s no point in sitting down to talk with a government that makes a practice of breaking its promises and violating its agreements” said FKTU President Kim Dong-man on 20 January 2016. ...

Table of contents

•     Trade union repression in 2015
•     The accession in 1996
•     Labour rights
•     Civil liberties
•     Labour reforms
•     The Chaebols
•     Worker participation and responsible business conduct
•     The OECD responsibility
•     Next steps for TUAC
•     Annex: Tracking of Korea’s commitments to the OECD