Shoulder pain or paralysis is the obvious occupation disease
Ms. Hwang Ki-ok, Daewoo Electronics in Kwang-ju
Got heavy shoulder pain after 8 years of working
I have worked in the micro-wave section of the Daewoo Electronics, Kwangju factory for 8 years and three months. The factory is located in Hanam Industrial Estate in Kwangju region.
Since the factory rationalization has been proceeded, the labor intensity has been strong because of shortening the length of working line, reduction of the working process and reduction of workers. So, most of workers who have worked there for more than 6~7 years are doing just simple labor intensive works.
At that time, I was one of the representative committee members, and l distributed a leaflet saying that shoulder paralysis should be regarded as an occupational disease. As for the company, since they didn't want to make any trouble, they started to survey on the people in microwave working line. Some workers including myself were checked by a doctor.
However, there was no further follow-up. The company just said to us 'Wait' so, we asked to the industrial disease insurance center about the check-up result. It says 22 workers are all 'Ieve1-C', among them 5 workers should be transferred to another working line.
Asked for the sick leave due to the occupational disease
The workers who should be transferred to another working line applied an industrial disease case, and demanded all union members to be checked by a doctor. And working environment such as unsuitable chair and working board must be changed, they demanded, as well.
The company, finally, decided to let workers be checked in the clinic, and promised to allow workers not to work during the treatment period. However, production line still forced to workers to be on line, there was no further reaction from the clinic. Therefore we, workers handed out application for leave by industrial disease, and asked to company to sign on lt.
The company threatened workers
The company showed us one document from the Office of Labor Affairs. The document reads 'These people are required a recheck-up after four weeks. Although they apply an industrial disease leave, the Labor Department wouldn't take it.'
And the office management added they are extremely busy because of leg-broken or arm-broken, patients shoulder pain is not serious problems. We checked to the Office of Labor Affairs whether the document in true or not, however it was proved to be a false. How angry !
Based on these stories, we sent a petition to the Office of Labor Affairs, but the company threatened those workers who signed in the petition. Finally l was left alone. I was forced to move out from this clinic. Although I appealed to the clinic about my pain, but they refused my request of detail check-up.
I will continue to fight for this case
At this moment, I gave up to be treated my shoulder pain and returned to work. I requested to management for 3 days to move my working line, but it was ignored. In this process union members encouraged me to move my working line.
I will really accomplish this case which shoulder pain (or even paralysis) should be regarded as an occupational disease. |