Summarized by Moh, Yoonsook(head of Education Dept. IWWA)

It is very urgent and necessary to organize irregular women workers in the women workers' movement. KWWAU jointly carried out research and organized a workshop of organizational strategies of irregular women workers with the Korean Women Studies Institute (KWSI) and Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on November 10, 1998. We summarize research results.

Under the current economic crisis where irregular workers have rapidly increased, trade union and/or irregular workers seldom take organized action against their situation. In particular, the present enterprise-based trade union system centered on regular workers is restricted in its possibilities to represent and defend irregular workers' interests and demands. Hence, the issue of organizing irregular workers who can be found throughout society is an unavoidable and urgent task in the trade union movement and the women workers' movement.

• Employment trends of irregular women workers

  Under the current economic crisis, many companies have discriminated against women and forced regular female workers to become irregular workers under the pretense of necessary restructuring. In particular, married women have been illegally targeted for irregular employment. In the process of restructuring, women are targets of this practice.

  Regular women workers are dismissed and/or victims of the closure of their women-concentrated departments and then re-employed through temporary employment agencies. In addition, companies usually terminate female workers who attempt to resist these unfair labor practices. Since companies target female workers first and concentrate on women for unfair labor practices, the irregular employment of women workers has rapidly increased.

• Employment situation by type

  1. part-time Employment

     1. employment situation

        In the Korean IMF era, the number of workers working under 36 hours (they are usually classified as part-time workers) has been on the increase, but 36, or more, hours on the decrease. This means that job security has become worsened. Research conducted by the Ministry of Labor shows that about 80% of part-time workers are women.

        In the 1990s, while the number of part-timers has decreased dramatically in the agricultural and fishery industries, the number has increased rapidly in the finance and insurance industries, wholesale and retail industries and the food and hotel industries. In 1994 part-time workers accounted for 22.4% in the manufacturing industry, 16.8% in the wholesale and retail industries, and 39.3% in the food and hotel industries. This implies that part-time employment has spread in the service sector in particular.

        In terms of marriage status of part-time workers by industry, the distribution industry mostly employs married women workers, and the bank and hospital industries unmarried women workers. Married women are employed in the form of 'housewife part-timers' in department stores or they are contracted out as 'housewife tellers' after their retirement. In the case of unmarried women, they are employed as 'part-time nurses' and their contracts are renewed in the form of part-time employment.

        There has been an the increase of part-time workers in the 20s and 30s age groups. They made up 23.9% amongst the age group of 20-29, and 26.5% in the age group of 30-39 in the 1980s, and increased to 31.0% and 31.0% in 1994. Among male part-timers, the age group of 20- 29 accounted for 72.9% and others merely 10%.

        According to their gender and age, part-time male workers made up 29.3%, but female 70.7%. This implies that part-time employment is not only a form of employment allowing women to work while also performing housework and caring for their children, but instead it is used to replace unmarried female workers by married female workers.

        The most outstanding characteristic of this form of employment is that a very large proportion of part-timer workers are women. In fact, the entire married and unmarried female labor force is now irregular, whereas before part-timers were generally married women. This is due to the fact, first, work opportunities are very limited to married women and no social supports for house-work or child caring, are available to them. And second, unmarried women are now vulnerable in the labor market since they are hired under nominal part-time contracts.

     2. Condition of labor

        A survey on irregular workers in the distribution industry conducted by the Korean Federation of Commercial Workers' Union (KFCWU) in 1997, found that the average hours worked per week by part-timers were 45.76 hours.

        However, part-time workers have received lower wages (they are not paid allowances, overtime pay, and receive no vocation), compared to regular workers. The average monthly wages of part-time workers are much lower than the first payment of regular workers performing similar work in the bank, retail and hospital industries.

        Part-time workers are discriminated in terms of all allowances as well as in terms of wages. Bonus accounted for 4.3%, retirement allowance 13.0% out of all allowances received by part-time workers, overtime pay 37.5%, and payment for work on holiday 29.2%. Regular workers obtained almost 95% of every allowance, but part-time workers were severely discriminated. In addition, they seldom receive monthly leaves, yearly leaves or menstruation leaves.

  2. Dispatched workers

     According to a report issued in 1992, there were 120 manpower agencies, and 74 recruiters, but there are today 2,699 manpower agencies, 3,164 recruiters with over 100 workers, and 100,000 dispatched workers.

     If adding an already illegal form of dispatched employment such as cleaners and care-takers, manpower agencies are projected to grow to 3,573, recruiters to 3,954 (more than 30 workers) and dispatched workers to 225,000. Dispatched workers account for 3.75% of the total number of 6 million Korean workers, which is much higher than figures in some other developed countries. However, since dispatched employment has so far been considered as illegal, there probably is a much higher number of dispatched workers in reality.

     1. The reality of employment

        The manufacturing industry employed 59.3% the dispatched workers surveyed representing the highest percentage. This shows that the claim made by the government and industry that dispatched employment occurs in specialized and skillful areas, is false. In addition, the service industry makes up 18.5% of non-manufacturing sector.

        In addition, dispatched employment has a clear gender segregation. In the manufacturing sector, men account for 64.6% of production workers, 88.5% of assisting production workers, and 98.2% of technical plumbers. Women made up 84.8% of clerical assistants, and 90.9% of service related work.

        The current trends in the employment of regular workers have been decreasing while the number of dispatched workers have been increasing. The highest increase in the number of dispatched workers is in production jobs in the manufacturing sector. In particular, the number of dispatched workers has sharply increased in large-size companies. The service sector has also seen large increase in the number employed.

        In terms of age distribution, 57.6% of women are between the ages of 10-29, but also that men have a relatively even distribution between all age groups. This shows that women have more difficulties in finding regular jobs and have to turn to dispatched jobs.

     2. Working conditions

        Dispatched workers have less working days a month and/or working hours a week of regular workers. However, they have longer working hours per day. The different wage levels between regular workers and dispatched workers. Dispatched workers earned 67.7% of the average wages of regular workers. In addition, men earned 74.3% of regular workers' wages and women only 50.9%.

        Dispatched workers are discriminated against in terms of wages and all additional monetary benefits. While regular workers received almost all benefits, dispatched workers received no more than 50% of the benefits. In particular, dispatched workers obtained 29.7% of maternity leaves, which means women's pregnancy and child-caring often caused unemployment. Hence, women face more severe job insecurity.

        Only 9.1% companies employed dispatched workers because of a shortage of labor as claimed by the government and industry, but 86.7% employed them regularly to carry out particular tasks. This means that using dispatched workers is in fact a replacement of regular workers and a way to obtain cheap labor.

        The regular employment of dispatched workers when surveying the duration of employment of dispatch workers. The companies employing dispatched workers in the long term such as over 3 years, made up the highest percentage (28.1%). Amongst dispatched workers 56.9% are employed for more than 1 year. No differences cannot be found by industry and size of company. Hence, the employment of dispatched workers in large size companies has been consolidated and expanded.

     3. A majority of dispatched workers are unorganized

        Members of trade unions constituted 4.6% amongst dispatched workers. Many workers answered 'trade union are not set up yet,' or 'there is a trade union, but I don't join a trade union', which shows a situation in which trade unions target dispatched workers. The membership of dispatched workers can also be co-related to the level of activism by the trade unions of the recruiting companies.

  3. Temporary/day employment

     In Korea, since different definitions are used by the Ministry of Labor and the National Statistical Office, and even definitions used by the National Statistical Office vary yearly, classification drawing a difference between temporary workers and day workers is difficult.

     1. Employment situation

        Employment trends of temporary workers since 1990. About 30% of workers were employed on a temporary basis. Male temporary workers made up about 29%, and women over 40%, which shows that women's employment has become temporary. Compared to 1990, temporary employment has slightly increased overall.

        However, the percentage of male workers has been decreased, but that of women increased from 39.6% in 1990 to 43.2% in 1996. This shows that a higher number of women have entered the labor market as temporary workers rather than regular workers, and along with the number of temporary workers has been on increase.

        The ratio of female temporary workers reached 60%, similar to that 1997. In particular, the wholesale, food and hotel industries employed the largest number female temporary workers, and the ratio of female temporary workers was high in the finance, insurance and service industries.

     2. Working condition

        Temporary and day workers have shorter average working days per month and average working hours per week, than regular workers. However, they receive only half the vacations of regular workers. Temporary and day workers obtained 67.7% of the wages of regular workers.

        The great majority of regular workers receive almost all of the additional benefits available. Temporary and day workers received only 62.7% of regular workers' overtime pay, even if they also do over-time work. They seldom receive employment insurance, pension and so on, so that they face more financial difficulties as well as job insecurity.

        51.1% of temporary and day workers replied that they made 1 year contracts. However, this includes cases of renewed year contracts, so that they were essentially the same as regular workers. In addition, 25.5% of temporary and day workers were treated differently from regular workers in terms of wages and other working conditions because they had no specific terms of contracts.

     3. Their relation with trade unions

        Although 98.1% of regular workers are organized into trade unions, membership of temporary and day workers is just 11.1%. In item of trade unions' attempt to organize irregular workers, as many as 26.1% of temporary and day workers surveyed responded that 'I do not know of any union activism,' which shows their indifference to enterprise-based trade unions. However, this means not only their indifference to trade unions but also trade unions' lacking efforts in organizing temporary and day workers.

        Irregular forms of employment such as part-time employment, dispatched employment and temporary and day employment has expanded because of the demand of industry, especially under the current economic turmoil. As a consequence, the replacement of regular workers by irregular workers, worsening working conditions and lower wages, their job insecurity has seriously worsened, and trade unions have been dismantled. Hence, the issue of organizing irregular workers is an urgent task in the trade union movement and the women workers' movement.

On October 30, 1998, "the fourth rally for come workers' job security and women's unemployment prevention" was held in front of the headquarters of the ruling party. In the rally, 'Free platform of 20 women speaking up to the present government' was formed to convey needs of various groups of women workers. The following was abstracted from their presentations.

1. Abolish the system of military service-adding points to "provide equal opportunity for women"

   Please pardon me for not mentioning my name and student number. Several months ago, I took an examination to be government officer at the 9th level. It was very competitive and so the passing mark was the high score of 95. My average score was only 92, only even though I worked hard. Of course, I failed the examination.

   Since men usually have an additional five points for completing the military service, it is almost impossible for women to keep up with them. I understand the government's position giving extra benefits to men who complete the service. However, it is extremely difficult to find a job at the moment. In particular, as a woman, I have been looking for a job for two years since graduating from university.

   I suggest the following; the government can give extra benefits to those who do their military services, but this should not stop women from being benefited from equal job opportunities. That is to say, economic benefits at higher salary classes can be given to those men who pass exams, but the system of military service-adding points should be abolished to guarantee equal opportunities to women. I strongly believe that this current practice deprives women of equal opportunities.

   I called newspapers, broadcasting stations and even the Blue House to let them know of my opinion, but I realized that the Korean society is male dominant. None of these authorities paid any attention to me.

   I have decided to discuss my situations with my university. I feel ashamed although already an alumni of the university, I am looking for help rather than contributing to it as I should do. I strongly request the abolishment of the system of military service-adding points. Abstract from a woman's letter about the military service-adding points system which is a factor preventing women from finding work.

2. Factory disappearing with sewing machines after withheld back wages

   My husband is unemployed, and I have two children aged 24 and 25. I have worked in garment factories for about five years. During this period, I suffered from withheld back wages twice and so, I sued them at a local labor office.

   Early last March, I started working at a garment factory called 'Chongsol' through an advertisement in a community newsletter. My wage was set as 800,000 WON a month. For the first three months, I was paid regularly, but later, my wages were continuously delayed. They were delayed one month, two months and so on...

   The company promised to pay my wages by the date of September 17, 1998, but the promise was not kept. I then waited for the company's promise to sell the sewing machines to pay their workers. On the day when the company was to pay me back, I went to the company one hour earlier than my appointment. I found some people putting the sewing machines into a truck.

   I could not find anybody from the company but a truck driver, so I thought the owner may have been in the office. But, the office was empty. The truck left. I waited and waited for the owner, but he did not came. Now, I do not know how to get back my wages. I am really very upset whenever I recall my hard work, doing overnight hours and skipping dinner. I dislike advertisements for seamstresses in community newspapers.

   - by Mrs. Park with the age of 52, living in Kuro 6-dong, Seoul

3. Woman householder excluded from the government's public work project

   Female householder participating in the 4th rally for calling for women worker's job security and demanding the government to establishment women's unemployment prevention

   I am a 43 year-old householder living in Inchon. I have a son going to middle school. I have been the breadwinner for my family, even when I had an irresponsible husband at home. However, at the moment most restaurants don't hire, and the job of a domestic helper is not in demand. I look at community newsletters almost everyday.

   Whenever I call upon them, my age becomes a problem. They usually hang up after I answered "I am 43 years old." I am registered as a single mother. Although the government announced that we, temporary pensioners are able to work in public works projects, and that we are eligible for government to support for our livelihoods, what the government has done for me who is a single mother as well as a woman householder, has been to give me 20,400 WON per month as support.

   It also gave me work for 20 days. However, the government did not let me work any larger. I went to several district offices to beg them to give me some work. They responded that single mothers can only participate in projects specially designed for them, while destitute and temporarily unemployable people may join general public work projects. All support existing for single mothers who want economic independence is 20,400 WON a month, which is less than for destitute and temporarily unemployable people.

   I joined a job training program for women householders to become a cook. I asked officers if I could be employed as cook several times, but they gave negative replies. One day, when I heard that the government was implement-ing meals project in secondary high and high schools, I went to the Education Office and visited officers related to school projects to ask about the project.

   However, they answered that the project would be subcontracted to private companies, and so that the cooks would be employed by these subcontracting companies. This means that my employment as a cook is not guaranteed. Therefore, I would like to make some suggestions.

   I request that women householders be allowed to join job training programs and public works in accordance with their training. I desperately request the government to employ women householders as cooks in secondary high and high schools. In addition, I suggest that women householders be able to manage direct 'women householders' subcontracting operation system's in meals projects that are subcontracted to private companies.

   - by Mrs. Kwon living in Inchon

4. One-side company restructuring to victimize workers

   The Chohung System Co., a 100% subsidiary of the Chohung Bank was established in 1990 with 70 workers. It aims at systemizing and computerizing the bank and its subsidiaries.

   Unemployment workers demand the government to establish women's! Unemployment coutermeasures! To guarantee women workers' job security & to abolish the military service-adding-point system!

   Initially, workers from the Chohung System Co. were dispatched to the Computing Dept. of the bank under the pretext that they had to learn banking jobs. but, we are still dispatched workers. Finally, the company has asked a manpower agency to fill their needs for labor force from the Chohung bank. In addition, the bank has discouraged the company from developing, by appointing its retired directors, who know little about computers as major ones in the company.

   In August 1995, workers in the Chohung System Co. working under poor working conditions established a trade union under the slogan of 'our future in our hands' and we were affiliated with an industry trade union of the KCTU. In the beginning of establishing the union, the management delayed making collective agreements demanded by the trade unions and, punished its members, it also made false accusations against union executives. Twenty members left the union at that time.

   Nevertheless, the remaining union members united to fight for their trade union. In November 1996, collective bargaining was authorized by the federation of trade unions and we went on strike to defend our collective agreement. The major issues were 1. obtaining the right to collective action 2. limiting dispatched employment. A collective agreement was reached after a three day strike.

   In retaliation, the company and the bank punished the union members with accusations of 'leaving the workplace without permission', and forced them to be dispatched to the Computing Dept. of the bank. To resist this decision, the union refused the dispatchment on the ground that its collective agreement guarantees 'banning workers from being re-dispatched for three months' and went on a legal struggle.

   The company refused paying back-wages out January, 1997, claiming that the workers had refused their jobs. The union's struggle against non-payment of back wages developed into a strike for retiring the company's president. As a result of a three month-long intense struggles involving out rallies in front of the headquarters of the bank and the president's home, the union eventually managed to achieve its demands for payment of back wages, retirement of the president, and development of programs for the company.

   On July 25, 1998, the bank announced that it was closing down the company, which was against the negotiation agreed upon during the previous month. That day the union set up an urgent action committee to carry out struggles against the company's decision and for guarantees of job security, and it held rallies in front of bank's headquarters. On August 1, 1998, the company fired all workers and prevented us from entering the office. In reaction to this, the union went on a struggle and set up tents at the well-known Myongdong Cathedral on August 10, 1998.

   The union saw the closure as nominal restructuring by the bank. While it carried out various kinds of rallies, it suggested practical alternatives which included the demands and interests of all 41 members.

   The committee prepared to take over the company in solidarity with a center assisting workers to take over the management and the finances of their ailing companies, aims to set up independently-managed companies as alternatives for maintaining job security. Then, on October 14, 1998, the union openly suggested taking over the company and demanded that the bank actively negotiated with us.

   On November 1, 1996, as a result of 100 days of united struggles the company expressed it willing to solve the dispute through several channels. The trade union was inspired by this to carry out firm struggles until obtaining victory.

   - by enraged women workers of the Chohung System Co., a company that closed without any concern for its workers.