| kwwa |
2002-11-20 18:48:18, 조회 : 375 |
1. Organized by the Korean Women Workers' Association United (KWWAU)
& the Community Education Centre(CEC)
2. Date : April 22, 2000 and April 30
3. Korean participants
Mi-hye Choi (chairperson of Ma-chang Women Workers' Association),
Yoon-sook Moh (secretary general, Inchon branch of the Korean Women's Trade Union),
Kwoi-sook Bong (secretary general of North Cholla Women Workers' Association), Hyonju Kim (secretary general of Inchon Women Workers' Association),
Jin-kyung Bae(publication officer of Korean Women Workers Associations United),
Jae Youn Lee (translator)
4. Schedule
April 23 Invited by Anita Fernando (chairperson of CEC)
having a talk with Jachal Kumal, general secretary of a trade union at the national level and Dipal affiliated to a post officers' trade union.
April 24 Attending a rally organized by workers working at the Fine Lanka, a Korean bag manufacturer (in Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ)).
Having a meeting with Fine Lanka workers (about how their strike developed and what they demanded)
Visiting the CEC, the Women's Center & the Free Trade Zones Workers Union.
Visiting women workers' accommodation, who work in the Katunayake FTZ.
Watching a play performed by the Katunayake FTZ workers.
April 25 Visiting the SATHYODAYA and Listening to its activities and tea plantation workers' situation in the Nawalapitiya region.
Having a meeting with its staff members and students.
Visiting tea plantation workers' accommodation and their workplace.
April 26 Visiting Dabindu Collective's office
Having a meeting with dismissed workers who worked at an Indonesian company.
Having a meeting with Dabindu staff in Biyagama.
Visiting women workers' accommodation near the Dabindu in Biyagama.
Having a talk with the workers working at the Joy Lanka, a Korean toy company located in the Biyagama FTZ.
Having a talk with a worker abused by a manager at a Korean company.
April 27 Holding a workshop to discuss Korean women workers' situation and women's trade union, situation of the Masan Export Processing Zone and its women workers' struggles in the late 80s and 90s, and women workers' situation in the FTZs in Sri Lanka ( with 5 Dabindu staff persons, 1 trade unionist, 1 unionist of the Fine Lanka, 3 Women's Centre staff persons)
April 28 Visiting the IJBF, a women farmers' organization in the Kekirawa region, and having a meeting with its activists
April 29 Completing a written complaint to Fine Lanka
5. Background and Purpose of Our exchange program
The total number of 134 Korean companies made 0.5 billion US$ investment in Sri Lanka, in 1999. They are mostly labor intensive light industries centered by textile and garment industries. Korean companies employ around 60,000 workers, so Korean companies are evaluated as the ones employing the highest number of workers in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government is very eager to attract foreign investment through providing protection and benefits for foreign investment in its constitution. The government has attempted to attract foreign capital through providing extremely extensive privileges and benefits to foreign companies. In particular, it enacted a special law (so-called BOI law), to attempt to attract intensive foreign investment especially in export-oriented industries. We have knowledge of the Sri Lankan government's policies and foreign investment, but workers' situations in Korean companies are hardly known.
Therefore, our exchange program aims to grasp working conditions, workers' situation and related organizations' activism in Sri Lanka through carrying out this exchange program in free trade zones. In addition, it aims at sharing the current Korean situations and workers' experiences with Sri Lankan workers. Lastly, it aims carrying out sincere discussion to consolidate solidarity and networks between workers and activists between Korea and Sri Lanka.
6. Procedure of our program
1) Meeting with Sri Lankan workers and visiting their accommodation
Meetings with workers in Sri Lanka were carried out in the FTZ in Katunayake and Biyagama. More than 90,000 women workers work in the FTZ located in Katunayake. Sri Lankan workers working in FTZs were allowed to form trade unions, in February 2000. Workers and activists have carried out very strong activism to set up trade unions and improve their working conditions. We visited striking workers working at three companies and workers physically abused by managers in a Korean company. In addition, we were allowed to visit women workers' accommodation.
Fine Lanka
The Fine Lanka is a Korean-invested bag manufacturer. It has frequently generated conflicts with workers since 1999. Although workers need to receive contracts, but it denies issuing them to workers. Even the workers' council provided by the government was not allowed in the factory. In this process, three workers were dismissed. After there were further conflicts with workers and security guards, the company suspended two workers. This was one-side decision by the company, which should have been discussed by workers' council members. On March 30, 2000, the company closed its factory without any advance discussion with workers, and it were still shut down until we visited workers. At that moment, the company ordered some workers to work at only one of its two factories, and 450 workers amongst the total number of 960 were dismissed.
Workers demanded to reinstate all of the 450 dismissed workers, to make their payment for two days when they went on strike in March, and to provide their bonus and wages for April because they continued to go to work, although the company shut down its factories. Workers requested us to see their Korean directing manager to let him know what workers demanded.
We made a call to the manager. We mentioned that we had already met Fine Lanka Workers and requested as gently as possible, to see him to know on the manager's side, what had happened. However, the manager refused our suggestion telling us that he did not have any time to explain the distorted situation (in his view). Eventually we have to forward our written complaint by mail, to let him know our view and demand to make prompt settlement with its workers (it is attached.)
Ishin Lanka
Ishin Lanka is an Indonesian invested company with an Indian managing director. It produces threads for exportation. The company employs the total number of 750 workers, and among them, over 500 workers are women. The factory is operated all day with three shift workers. Workers of this company set up their trade union on February 4, 2000 when is the Independence day in Sri Lanka. But, it was not allowed in the company. The company formed a workers' council to weaken the trade union and make only one-side communication channel. On March 17, 2000, 11 workers were dismissed. They had been warned so many times because their union activities were very strong. Four out of them, were dismissed under excuse of their false over-time work and the others are fired because they were involved in its labor committee.
On March 17 when the dismissed workers decided to go on strike, the company shut down the workplace, and many workers were nearly confined in their company dormitories because managers stopped them from gaining their foods from the outside. Two days later, women workers staying in the dormitories joined the strike, the company, assaulting them with pvc pipes, drove them out of their dormitories.
The workers had no place to stay. Fortunately, a buddhist temple in Katunayake invited them, so they stayed there over one month to carry on their strike. After we had a meeting of women workers, a monk told me that women are not allowed to stay overnight in temples, but because monks agree with their struggle, monks should protect them until they win.
The company dismissed all of the 750 workers who joined the strike, and employed new workers. The company refused trade union's attempts to make negotiation, and further, it held fast its stubborn stance, even when the government visited managers. Workers demanded to reinstate all the dismissed workers, to increase their payment, to make payment of their unpaid bonus, and to guarantee other 7 day holidays. They also claimed the company not to abuse workers, nor give unnecessary minor warning.
Joy Lanka
The Joy Lanka had transferred its type of business from toys to bags. In this course, it dismissed 175 workers. Against the company's decision, workers formed their trade union and so, the 175 workers were reinstated. But, soon after, the company transferred its type of business to toys again, and dismissed all workers except 110 workers. Therefore, workers went on strike. When the Joy Lanka recruited them, it just ordered workers to work, without in advance informing them that they would work at the CNH. The Joy Lanka insisted the CNH have no relationship with it, but the owner of both of the companies is the same: the Joy Lanka, the CNH, and the JY are in the same group, and their chairperson is a Korean. Since the Joy Lanka's working condition is slightly better than the CNH's, workers desire to work at the Joy Lanka. Workers did not trust managers. That is because the company did not keep its promise to guarantee their employment, but when the workers brought the case to the court, the company turned over. The company preferred newcomers to its workers. Even the workers still working at the company supported the dismissed workers' struggle.
abuses by supervisors and managers in Korean companies (the JY Textile and others)
We had a talk with a male worker working at the JY Textile. He worked as a boiler for six months. On February 15, 2000, He was stroke on the head by a Korean manager while he was carrying out his night work. On the next day, the case was brought to the police. He had a medical checkup, but on April 18, 2000 he had a return of the disease. Although the company tried to settle in his case giving some compensation, he refused it and demanded his job security. In another case, its supervisor kicked a woman worker. Further, workers at the Korea Silon Foot Wear were abused because they did not reach their targets.
Visiting women workers' accommodation
Women workers working in the Katunayake FTZ earn monthly payment of 3,000 rupies on average. Women workers are concentrated. Six rooms were available in a house and three or four women workers usually share a room. Very small space just for cooking and a bed is available. Their rent is around 1,250 rupies. They told us monthly cost of living for their rent, electricity and so on is around 4,500 rupies. Most of them moved from their villages at the age of 18 years. They support around 10 families back in their villages. We met a woman worker working for a company for 7 years. Because of her marriage, the company threatened to terminate her job. We feel so sorry because three or four women workers have to live in a small room without any fan in the hot country. However, they have so strong self-esteem and confidence that they let us see their livelihood without feeling any shame.
2) Visiting trade unions and women workers' organizations
We also visited women workers' organizations and trade unions. Union activists and women workers' activists are very active. We can hear women workers' situations and reality in Sri Lanka through them.
Women's Centre
In 1982 Industrial transport & General Workers' Union was formed, and with its support, the Women's Center was set up in August 1982. Since then, the two organizations have worked very closely. The Women's Centre bridges women workers with other workers in the trade union movement. It also carries out celebration for the May Day and the International Women's Day. Some activists in FTZs participated in setting up a confederation of independent trade unions.
We feel trade unions and the Women's Centre have the main task about how to organize FTZ women workers. The Women's Center helps women workers to get together and carry out studies and discussion. It also educates them about the necessity for the establishment of trade unions, and legal advice in the conjunction of independent trade unions whenever workers experience conflicts with managers. If workers visit the Ministry of Labor, the Women's Center accompanies them to represent workers. In addition, the center carries out women workers related education and training.
The Women's Centre has the membership of around 2,000 production workers. It has 4 branches and 4 full-time activists. Main activities of the Women's Centre are to let women workers use its library, and to conduct exchange programs for three branches in FTZ, and to undertake exchange programs with tea plantation women workers (mostly Tamils). In celebration of 20 years since the establishment of the first FTZ, the government conducted official celebration, but the organization carried out street exhibition with photographs about FTZs' real situations.
A law allowing workers to set up trade unions in the FTZ was passed on December 8, 1999. On January 23, 2000, the Free Trade Zones Workers' Trade Union was established with the member of 2,000. Workers planned to increase the membership to 10,000 by the end of the year of 2000, through setting up its branches in each FTZ and in each factory. They also planned to visit individual workers to organize them.
Meeting with DaBindu staffs (four including its chairperson)
The DaBindu was set up in 1984 and its Biyagama branch in 1991 after the Biyagama FTZ was formed. Their main activities are to enhance women workers' awareness, to provide legal advice and counselling to women workers. In addition, they conducted survey about health and nutrition of FTZs' women workers and carried out campaign for their health. As an organizational program, they open their libraries for women workers to visit the Dabindu freely. They carry out street drama about women workers once a month for the publicity.
Further, they also conduct exchange programs between FTZ women workers and women in the countryside and fishing village. Most of women workers come from the countryside. Managers usually give an distorted information about workers in FTZ, so young people under the illusion tend to leave their home early to become factory workers. In order to break the illusion and distorted information and to give real facts in the workplace, they feel the necessity for conducting the exchange program. One of the exchange programs is to bridge the racial gaps and conflicts between the Singalis and the Tamil.
Many women workers taking counselling with the Dabindu work at Korean companies. The Young-in Lanka, a Korean company has harsh working condition such as forced labor and night work. In addition, the company did not take any measure for some workers whose fingers were pierced by sawing machines. Women workers at the Asia International were restricted to go to toilet. They have to hold only one flag that is available in the company to go to toilet during their working hours. Further, they were not allowed to go to toilet near the lunch time.
In some cases, women workers solve their conflicts after they discuss with the DaBindu. It started to issue women workers' situations through its newsletters about 19 years ago, to improve their conditions. Since no trade unions are allowed in FTZs, they carried out alternative activities to trade unionism. The DaBindu published inhumane treatment at the Panorama, a Korean company, and then it threatened to collect the information, but the company's insistence was found groundless. In another company, there was no provision of free sugar and cream for workers' tea time, which was published on the DaBindu newsletter, the company changed its custom immediately. One woman worker working the Young-in Lanka for five years was insulted by a supervisor in front of their co-workers. The next day, she was threatened to terminate her job. After discussion with the DaBindu, she resisted the company's one-way decision, and the company had to give up its decision.
Since FTZ women workers have long working hours without having nutritious food, their health condition is mostly very poor. According to the DaBindu's survey, 60% women workers in FTZs suffered from dystrophia. It carries out nutrition related campaign and sells nutritious herbal food cheaply.
In addition, the DaBindu publishes and distributes sexual harassment related booklets and pamphlets and tapes on health and nutrition and legal issues to women workers. Since women workers can receive lump sum money when they are retired, they tend to terminate their jobs as soon as they are married.
3) WORKSHOP
We held a workshop to discuss how to strengthen the network and solidarity of workers between Korea and Sri Lanka. In the workshop the necessity was emphasized for international solidarity to fight against transnational companies and globalization.
Venue : Community Education Centre
Participants : 3 people from the Women's Centre / 5 staffs from the Dabindu / 6 staff members from the KWWA / 2 unionists from the FTZ Union
Contents : Korean situation; introduction of the KWWAU and the KWTU; experiences of striking women workers in the Masan export processing zone in Korea; Sri Lankan FTZ women workers' reality
Korean situation and export processing zone
Since 1997 when Korea was stroke by the economic crisis the IMF has conducted neo-liberal policies to facilitate foreigners' far easier investment in Korea. Under this situation, the foremost victims are workers. Korea has had extremely high unemployment rate (due to bankruptcy, increasing number of homeless and street people because of industrial restructuring, dismantling families, far higher suicides), so women workers have also suffered a lot. Presently, the Korean economy is viewed as being recovered, but gaps between the rich and the poor are far much larger. As a result of flexibility in the labor market insisted by the IMF, employment has been very insecure and irregular workers have been increasingly spread out in society. To fight back against the situation faced by women workers, Women Workers' Associations set up the Action Center for Women's Unemployment, and the Action Center for Obtaining Irregular Workers' Rights. In particular, in 1999 the Korean Women's Trade Union was established to specialize in women workers' issues and organize women workers.
Presently, 71 companies amongst 77 companies are still operated in the Masan Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Korea. Most of them are electricity or electronic companies invested by Japanese. Since 1987 trade unions has been allowed in the EPZ. Workers (mostly women workers) in the EPZ have gone through conflicts and tension with the Korean government in relation to establishing trade unions. Foreign companies where trade unions had been set up were mostly relocated and/or their trade unions have become co-opted. Now, the number of women workers is 8,100 and male 4,700, out of the total number of 12,800 EPZ workers. However, there are very few democratic trade unions in the EPZ.
Women workers in the EPZ are still exploited. For example, a woman worker who is 8 month pregnant is forced to have two shift work and to work while standing, but she was able to work sitting on a chair, before. Although women workers' working condition is getting worse, very few struggles are carried out. If workers fight for their rights and working conditions, companies relocated their factories or change regular workers into irregular ones, so now, workers experience high employment insecurity. However, under the terrible condition, It is mostly women workers who attempt to strengthen democratic trade union activities.
One of Korean participant worked for the TC, an American company. In 1987 when trade union was set up, the company tried to destroy the union, workers occupied the factory for one and half years. At that time, workers employed several methods to fight against the multinational company: to publicize its exploitation to Korean people; to fight against the Korean government which should have protected Korean workers; and to form a national body and to publicize multinational companies' brutality nationally and internationally. Since transnational companies move to so many countries, international and domestic solidarity is crucial. Outcomes obtained by TC workers' struggle were written down, which became a good example to other workers in the EPZ. Above all, our struggles should aim to change people in relation to society and capital.
Sharing Sri Lankan FTZ workers' experiences
The Women's Centre and the Dabindu try to organize women workers in the FTZ, mainly through operating libraries, performing street dramas, and carrying out sewing classes. They also attempt to enhance women workers' awareness through publishing booklets and newsletters. In addition, they also carry out exchange programs with people in the village. Since young Sri Lankan women do not receive proper sex education and abortion, they give such education, as well.
In addition, they carry out the organizational strategy as follows : they give counselling and advice to their visitors, and then, they encourage the workers to share what they learn to other workers in the workplace. They also believe street dramas are very effective. When some conflicts take place, activists visit, give counselling, and help workers to obtain what they demand, so the organizations have quite high reputation and trust amongst workers. Through publishing newsletters, women workers' experiences are shared (and it also used to give international pressure to companies). When strikes and struggles occur, activists visit them and try to support them financially and psychologically.
International Solidarity
In our exchange program, we had discussion mainly focusing on general economic situations between Korea and Sri Lanka as well as women workers in the FTZ. Although both countries are on different economic stages, women workers in Korea and Sri Lanka experience similar exploitation and repression by the capital, especially multinational companies. We can see repression on trade unions, harsh working condition, low wages and frequent ashore relocation of factories in Sri Lanka, which Korean EPZ women workers already experienced.
Sri Lankan participants were interested in struggles of Korean women workers, especially those in the EPZ, and we believe they can also adapt good cases and strategies used in Korea. We are impressed because Sri Lankan women workers are very active in union activities and they have strong organizational power. We also discussed how to inform our struggles and how to consolidate international solidarity. If workers in Korean companies carry out struggles, we, Women Workers' Associations promised to take action such as protesting in the Korean headquarters. We also promised to exchange newsletters and correspondences to each other.
International solidarity and sharing information between workers are crucial. This exchange program including the workshop should not be tentative. We will carry out continued solidarity with Sri Lankan activists and workers.
7. Significance of the Korean-Sri Lankan Exchange Program
This exchange program is evaluated as far progressive than previous ones. That is because we tried to intervene in some cases and to take action. Although our attempt to have a talk with Fine Lanka's manager was not realized, we sent our complaint to the company, through which we warn Korean companies in Sri Lanka. We realize workers will be much far stronger if international solidarity between local workers and those where mother companies are located is inter-woven very well.
We plan to carry out exchange workshop between Korean, Sri Lankan and Vietnamese workers in the fall of 2001. We believe our exchange programs will be a good and strong foundation for consolidating international solidarity, establishing good network, exchanging information between workers.
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