[No.2] KWWA's Activity Plans & Major Tasks in 2008

KWWA's NEWS WEAVER 2008/04/30 16:20 |
Let’s Make our Good Demands to Presidential Candidates’

 

KWWA's Activity Plans & Major Tasks in 2008

 

 

 Since the Korean economic crisis in 1997 the words such as globalization, social polarization, working poor people, irregular workers have often been heard in the Korean society. We are living in the tough society where 'economic growth cannot tackle unemployment', 'employment cannot solve poverty' nor 'people cannot overcome the big gaps between regular workers and irregular workers, large-sized companies and very small companies, rich people and poor people, students studying very well and those who have poor scores.' The great majority of women lead a very hard life, but they cannot be linked to the labor movement which usually aims to guarantee lifelong jobs and welfare in the workplace, regular workers, and family wages, which are far from irregular women workers' demands. In order to improve conditions for women workers, there should be affirmative attempts to empower 'women workers, so that they can weave their hopes'. Various forms of movements should be applied to women workers' movement in order to 'introduce fair wages and social securities as means of overcoming the boundary of companies' and 'creating alternative living.' (quoted from The Evaluation of KWWA for 20 Years). more>>

 

 

Single parent families, fly high with the wings of hope!
 - Outcomes of women single parent families care services -

 

 

 Between March 2007 and February 2008, KWWA had supported child care services, house care services, and temporary nursery system in hospital (so-called hospis system) in order that KWWA can help women single parents look for their jobs and can enhance their health and emotional peace. A Korean broadcast station as a social contribution activity financed this project through the Korea Foundation for Women and KWWA and Korean Women’s Associations United carried out the project. Especially KWWA's regional branch organizations in Seoul, Incheon, Pucheon, Ansan and Suwon Women's Organization conducted the specific project. These women's organizations provided care services for 195 families per month and about 2000 families a year, as means of providing single parent families economic and emotional support. more>>

 

 

Women workers' situations through counseling analysis
conducted by Hotline for Equality in 2007 

 

 

Hotlines for Equality (sited in 8 regions including Seoul, Incheon, Pucheon, Ansan, Masan & Changwon, North Cholla province, kwangju and Pusan) annexed to KWWA, received the total number of 2,353 cases related to female labor in 2007, (except re-counseling and male counseling). If we look at the characteristics of women workers who had counseling with Hotlines for Equality, 74.1% are married and 40.1% are over 40 years old, which means the great majority are middle aged married women. In addition, 62.1% work at very small companies with less than 30 employees and 44.1% are irregular workers.

In terms of contents about counseling, working conditions such as wage delays and unfair dismissals accounted for 62.3% out of the total counseling in 2007, which was the highest percentage, maternity leave 14.1%, sexual harassment at workplace 11.1%, and gender discrimination 7.0%. In the case of changes in the contents about counseling for these 3 years, working conditions related counseling which accounted for 54.9% in 2006, increased dramatically in 2007, but counseling regarding gender discrimination, sexual harassment, maternity leaves, verbal and physical violences decreased a little bit. This shows that working condition related counseling increased due to worsening working conditions for women workers, caused by deepening social polarization and flexibility in the labor market. more>>

 

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[Hotline for Equality] Analysis of 2007's statistics on counseling

HOT ISSUES & NOTICE 2008/04/28 16:57 |

[Hotline for Equality] Analysis of 2007's statistics on counseling

Irregular workers experience more dismissals related to pregnancy and child delivery than regular workers in terms of gender discrimination counseling

≫ Women workers' situations through counseling analysis conducted by Hotline for Equality in 2007

by KimShin Hae-jung (KWWA staff member)


Hotlines for Equality (sited in 8 regions including Seoul, Incheon, Pucheon, Ansan, Masan & Changwon, North Cholla province, kwangju and Pusan) annexed to KWWA, received the total number of 2,353 cases related to female labor in 2007, (except re-counseling and male counseling). If we look at the characteristics of women workers who had counseling with Hotlines for Equality, 74.1% are married and 40.1% are over 40 years old, which means the great majority are middle aged married women. In addition, 62.1% work at very small companies with less than 30 employees and 44.1% are irregular workers.

■ 62.3% are working condition related counseling, which is somewhat increased compared to those in 2006

In terms of contents about counseling, working conditions such as wage delays and unfair dismissals accounted for 62.3% out of the total counseling in 2007, which was the highest percentage, maternity leave 14.1%, sexual harassment at workplace 11.1%, and gender discrimination 7.0%. In the case of changes in the contents about counseling for these 3 years, working conditions related counseling which accounted for 54.9% in 2006, increased dramatically in 2007, but counseling regarding gender discrimination, sexual harassment, maternity leaves, verbal and physical violences decreased a little bit. This shows that working condition related counseling increased due to worsening working conditions for women workers, caused by deepening social polarization and flexibility in the labor market.

<Figure 1:> Changes in counseling for these 3 years

사용자 삽입 이미지

■ Fewer irregular workers received maternity leave related counseling relative to regular workers

In terms of maternity leaves, regular workers accounted for 71.5% (158 cases), and irregular workers 28.5% (63 cases). Compared to the percent (21.9%) in 2006 there was an increase by 6.6% in the number of irregular workers. However, relative to regular workers, the percentage of irregular workers were very low, which shows the amended Maternity Protection Enactment does not well cover irregular workers who account for 70% out of the total number of women workers. In this regard, practical and feasible maternity protection related measures for irregular workers are needed.

Regular workers have a higher number of maternity leave and child care leave related counseling compared to irregular workers, but irregular workers received 3.6% higher counseling regarding others than regular workers. Basic maternity protection related counseling such as compensations for mansturation leave was discussed, which means women irregular workers work in poorer working conditions.

(Table) Distribution of maternity protection by employment type

Maternity Protection

Total

Maternity leave

Child care leave

Others

2007

Regular workers

(%)

%

90

(57.0)

70.9

46

(29.1)

75.4

22

(13.9)

66.7

158

(100.0)

71.5

Irregular Workers

(%)

%

37

(58.7)

29.1

15

(23.8)

24.6

11

(17.5)

33.3

63

(100.0)

28.5

Total

%

127

100.0

61

100.0

33

100.0

221

100.0

■ 59.2%, Dismissal and disadvantage due to pregnancy and child delivery out of gender discrimination related counseling

Gender discrimination accounts for 7.0% (164 cases) out of the total counseling. In details, pregnancy and child delivery related gender discrimination was quite high, which accounted for 59.2% (34.8% pregnancy and child delivery related dismissal, and 24.4% disadvantages related to pregnancy and child delivery). pregnancy and child delivery related gender discrimination in 2007 rose by 16.7% relative to that in 2006, which shows pregnancy and child delivery have still affected women workers.

(Diagram) Distribution of gender discrimination related counseling

사용자 삽입 이미지

■ 81.3% high sexual harassment by seniors and bosses in workplace

increasing sexual harassment by business acquaintances and customers

11.1% (261 cases) out of the total counselees experience sexual harassment in the workplace. Women workers in their 20s accounted for 61.2% and women working less than 1 year 55.2%, and unmarried women workers 68.5%. This shows counseling regarding sexual harassment in workplace is usually undertaken by unmarried women in their 20s working less than one year.

<Table > Distribution of sexual harassment in workplace by characteristics between 2005~2007

Items

2005

2006

2007

No. of counseling (%)

269 (9.2)

357 (13.3)

261 (11.1)

Less than 20~30 years old (%)

118 (55.4)

131 (48.9)

123 (61.2)

Working less than one year (%)

105 (45.9)

139 (48.4)

116 (55.2)

Unmarried (%)

152 (64.4)

197 (62.5)

148 (68.5)

In the case of offenders of sexual harassment by type, seniors accounted for 41.2%, bosses 40.1%, coworkers 9.3% and others 9.3%. Out of the total offenders, 81.3% sexual harassment occur by seniors and bosses, which shows sexual harassment violates women workers' rights to work making use of position hierarchies in workplace.

Related to that in 2006, it is characteristic that sexual harassment was decreased by seniors but that sexual harassment by bosses was largely increased from 30.5% in 2006 to 40.1% in 2007, and that by coworkers was somewhat decreased to 9.3% in 2007. Other offenders were mainly business acquaintances and customers.

Because work environments has changed a lot, there have been increases in the number of subcontracted and dispatched workers, and so sexual harassment occurs not only in the companies with which women workers made contracts, but also by the third persons such as mother companies and related companies, and customers. In particular, one out of 3 women workers were employed in sales and service sector. Work environments of women workers have changed. Women workers are put in the blind spot of sexual harassment in workplace, if but the relation of employment is considered not actual task relation. Therefore, sexual harassment by the third persons such as acquaintances and customers should be regulated.

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[letter from childcare worker] I learned a lot from disabled children

HOT ISSUES & NOTICE 2008/04/28 13:51 |

[Hope Center to Abolish Poverty and Increase the Rights of Women Workers]

                        I learned a lot from disabled children


                        Im Okkyung (childcare worker belonging to Ansan Women Workers' Association)

사용자 삽입 이미지
In this February chilly wind made me cold. Because I am over 50 years old with low educational background, it was not easy for me to find a job. The job of child care worker suits me, and I feel it's meaningful and I am happy. However, as in this late February I had to finalize the childcare work, I felt sorry and concerned for the children that I was looking after.

Since the last March I as a child care worker for a single parent family had looked after 13 year mentally retarded girl and had taken her from home to school and brought her back to home.

Between March and July, I had to take her from home to school and bring her back to home, but she had an operation on her legs so I had to take care of her in hospital. This girl cannot say any word except "mommy." She had to wear hygiene napkins for a baby all the time or I have to take her to toilet every 2~3 hours. Because her legs were bent, she often tumbled when she walked. Therefore, someone had to hold her all the time. That's why she had an operation on her left leg to straighten hers in the last summer vacation and on right left in the last winter vacation. After the long and difficult operations, she had to have some 30 cm long and heavy pins put and stuck and she was in hospital for 3 months without walking.

Her mother is a divorced breadwinner and has a lot of hardship taking care of child by herself. The kid needs someone to be beside her because she cannot do anything by herself. I was able to talk with her with eyes. I was able to assume what she wants because I was with her for one year. Sometimes I feel it's so tough that I wanted to quit this job, however they need me, so I was able to stand that.

Even though the girl can express herself only 10% and although she can't achieve what she wants, she is patient. I have learned from her. Although I am in difficulty, I know mine is very small and my complaints are just luxury compared to her and her mother.

Her mother has gone through double hardships. She has to earn money because of medical fees including operation expenses and has to take care of her daughter. When the child sleeps at night she asks her nephews or those who take care of other patients near her daughter and goes to work over night. She come back home in the morning but when I take care of the kid, she is also so sick that she has to go to hospital and do housework. After taking care of some tedious but important things, she has to change her job with me and look after the girl, and so it is very tiring. For the last one year the mother often said this project for single parent families is so helpful, but she doesn't know how to do in future. Her relatives usually mention that her kid should be put in a center, but it is very difficult to put her free of charge. Because of her daughter she doesn't want someone in difficulty. That's why she wants to carry that burden by herself. In addition, because the daughter is disabled she was discarded by her husband, now it becomes her goal and meaning of her life to take good care of the kid. That's why I guess she stands this so well.

At the hospital, people wonder about me. They know I am not her relative or employed. I explain to them that the project for single parent families can be available in Ansan. They wonder if they are eligible for the service although the project is not implemented the cities where they live. They want to move to Ansan, but I can't dare to say the service would be terminated this year.

As a childcare worker I feel my job is meaningful because I can help those in difficulties. Moreover, I feel it's really nice that we can share and exchange together, and women householders are so strong that they can swim the sea of troubles hard. In addition, prejudice against disabled people is overcome and hugged with love, and I realize there is much deeper love.

In the end, I am very thankful to Ansan Women Workers' Association staff members for trying to provide me happy job environments. Although this project is terminated, I believe you, Ansan Women Workers' Association, will light the hopes in the darkness of Ansan with other projects. Thank you!

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