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feature Workers, but not recognized as workers
KWTU has been busy with a new protest campaign from the very beginning of this year. This is because, while the whole country was excited with the new millenium and hope for the new century, women workers were being dismissed due to turning forty. They were caddies at the Yongin Plaza Golf in Hanhwa Resort. Normally we regard the age of forty not as the age of retirement but as one of the most active, enthusiatic and energetic period in the workplace. The dismissed caddies were very well trained and they had worked there for ten to seventeen years when whole country was excited with a new millenium and hope for the new century. Here the problem had nothing to do with working skill or capacity but was related to gender discrimination. They were just estimated by outlook appearance and age. Their employer was able to dismiss them with ease, because caddies are not protected by the Labor Standard Law. Since the 1980s, the occupational sectors which employ a majority of women workers get less legal protection. In many sectors, women workers are not regarded as workers and therefore lack legal protection. Even now, controversy rages over whether they are workers or not. Taking the case of the caddies as representative, let's look into the reality in depth. Caddies living under the dead angle ground of legal protection Over the past few years, public interest in golf has increased owing to Korean successes in several important international golf tournaments. However, it is not well known that caddies have suffered in their dead angle ground of legal protection. At present, there are about twenty thousand caddies in Korea. Their work is of a service nature, and they have been kicked out of their workplaces in middle age in spite of fact that it is often considered a time to work more. Protest demonstration by caddies protesting against the earlier retirement at the age of forty in front of the Hanhwa Group Building The duties of a caddy include carrying golf equipment during games, delivering golf clubs to their clients, looking for balls, cleaning balls, and taking care of grass damaged by golfers - even though regulations state the golfers themselves are supposedto be responsible for this. In addition, caddies must have a full understanding of the game rules, weather, wind direction, courses, and some information about their clients such as their habits, swing forms, and characteristics in order to carry out the role of a caddy well. It could be seen as professional service work. They have the duty to provide a good service but do not get a good return for their service. Insecure employment In 1989, some pregnant women who worked as caddies delivered deformed babies, causing widespread alarm. Unjust treatment, inhumane treatment When some clients experience unsatisfactory play, they sometimes vent their feelings on the caddies and even turn physically violent. This is due to the distorted perception of the function of caddies. These unexpected incidents must be prevented in order to protect the caddies' human dignity. Sexual abuse within the workplace While the game is played, some thoughtless clients commit verbal, physical, and subtle sexual abuse against caddies. In the case of Pusan Country Club, the club forced caddies to accompany with their clients for drinks. Therefore in the case of Yooseong Country Club, the workers' union included investigation of the conflict between caddies and clients in their labor and management negotiations in 1999. According to the results of negotiation, in the case of client misconduct, the client will be warned. Apply the Labor Standard Law to all working women One of the main tasks of ACRIWWR is to apply the Labor Standard Law to the women workers who work in the dead angle ground of law. The more women work, the louder their voice. More women workers are speaking up for their rights. The trade union of caddies has been established and a constant struggle has been waged to restore the jobs of the dismissed caddies. The struggle for the application of the Labor Standard Law for the caddies has been carried out unceasingly. In 1999, the home tutors with Wisdom supplementary texts, one of the leading home visiting teaching company, conducted a strike, and they are now in the process of labor and management negotiations. Only the voices which break the silence, saying "We are not the uncomplaining workers any more, who do as they are told", and the women who insist upon their rights, will lead ACRIWWR to success. |
Korea Working Women's Network 2000