The Action Center for Women's Unemployment

Evaluation of Three Years' of the Action Center

Park, Jin-young  KWWAU, Research Officer

In 2001, the Action Center for Women Unemployment has widened its scope of work base on its successes for the past years. KWWAU branches in seven districts have been designated as self-supporting organizations. This paper evaluates the projects and results of the Action Center. And also to bring forth measures for new projects.

1. Background for the Establishment of the Action Center

The advent of the economic crisis in late 1997 has led Korean women to face severe unemployment. Women were affected by compulsory and priority contract dismissals and were forced to transfer to contract work. However, the public view of unemployment was that it was predominantly a male-centered problem and the outdated discriminatory ideology of "women return to your homes" raised its ugly head, rationalizing priority dismissals of women workers. Gender equality achieved by women workers were at the risk of collapsing. Women householders were particularly affected. It was almost impossible for dismissed women workers to find new jobs. Women's unemployment did not become a social issue and the government released no measures to counter the problem.
The Action Center for Women's Unemployment was set up on June 9, 1998 with the aim of making women's unemployment a social issue and to carry out campaigns to pressure the government to set up measures to overcome the problem.

2. Contents of Activities

1) Supporting Programs for Unemployed Women
Programs such as counseling to introduce jobs, "a recruiting day for unemployed women" and educational programs for re-employment, skills training, life and medical support, sideline work rooms, dispatching tutors for children during after-school hours were undertaken to create jobs.
The counseling programs were highly thought of by the women workers for the kind manner of the counselors, comprehensive information available, and comfortable surroundings and could be distinguished from other public organizations for the comprehensive information available to the unemployed women. Also realistic support was given to the women workers other than job counseling in the form of public works, job training, accepting applications for temporary life support and women householders together with information on government policies. Psychological counseling on family and every day life matters was also undertaken. Such programs led to more concrete job-seeking projects in 1999. A monthly campaign was held by the Seoul branch of the KWWAU. Leaflets were handed out in places where there were many enterprises with the contact numbers of the Action Center.
Other activities include providing information on the types of public works available and ways of application, introducing medical support programs and application for life support, recent employment trends, job-designing, interview points and other information needed for re-employment. Unlike the every day counseling sessions, the recruiting day acted as an educational sphere for unemployed women and place for women to exchange and share information reducing the sense of hopelessness and adaptation abilities. On the recruiting day, women received information on job awareness, learn how to conduct themselves in practice make-believe interviews, get introduced to jobs suitable for women, how to study for certificates of qualifications, job aptitude tests, etc.
Skills training cannot become the foremost measure to overcome unemployment but it has done much to lesses the pain of dismissal and give hope to women in searching for new methods of employment. Furthermore, skills training does provide better opportunities for reinstatement and thus, will be continued in the future.
Most women face difficulties when they are laid off. Life support was given to these women in the form of rice and coal and has continued from 2000 to prevent women from suffering without rice and heat in the severe winter. Also medical aid was provided by linking up medical NGOs with unemployed women and children of unemployed women under the age of 10 were given 30 to 50% discounts in medical payments.
The Center also concentrated on providing jobs for unemployed women by operating sideline work rooms and dispatching teachers to help with children of low-income families in daycare centers. regular meetings were held with the management of the daycare centers to enabled the smooth operation of the project as well as monthly meetings of dispatched teachers, education of teacher assistants, situational surveys, etc. In 1999 and 2000, regional projects became more active to increase job opportunities. These projects gathered strength because they were designated by the government for the dispatch of workers to public works undertaken by the government and because they received governmental support for their self-support projects.

2) Policy Campaigns, Research & Policy Recommendations
Diverse activities have been carried out to increase publicity on the reality of women workers. The Action Center took on the purpose of publicizing hidden unemployment which did not appear on government statistics on unemployment. The monitoring of public employment agencies was undertaken and public debates were held in three districts on the matter concerned, The Seoul, North Cholla and Incheon districts of the KWWAU undertook the publication of the situational study of women householders and unemployed women and helped increased public understanding on the issue involved., Research on long term programs to overcome women unemployment was completed  with emphasis on self-support programs and the results of the research were publicized. Three public debates were held in 1999 and 2000 on women's unemployment. A discussion in conjunction with the first anniversary of the establishment of the Action Center on the evaluation and policy proposals of women unemployment was also organized as well as discussion on the measures to overcome unemployment faced by middle-aged women. Further discussions on the situational study of preparations undertaken by women university graduates to overcome unemployment and measures to overcome gender discrimination in the process of job seeking.
Public debates were also held to make the voices of unemployed women workers heard with the attendance of representatives from the government, political parties, academia, and citizens' groups, publicizing the reality of women unemployment and demanding policy implementation. There were also continuous campaigns and actions for policy recommendations. Starting from July 9, a total of five campaigns were undertaken once a month demanding government policy measures with the two major labor unions and a university coalition to achieve women worker rights. Also undertook campaigns for policy implementation on women's unemployment and a more realistic execution of the National Livelihood Act.
 
3) Organizational Activities
Mutual aid organizations are the most important for unemployed women. First started by the KWWAU Incheon branch, they quickly spread to the other regions. Anyone wishing to become a member can join and members aid each other and encourage each other to step up measures for employment. The principle of the mutual aid organizations is "to help other women just as they have helped me." Members are operating a  unemployed women group, a public works monitoring group, groups according to occupations, etc.
Based on such activities, organizational projects were boosted in 1999 and 2000. Group counseling and other educational programs were fostered. The purpose of these educational programs lied in the efforts to create a model for other educational programs for unemployed women. As of May 2000, there are mutual aid organizations for middle-aged women in 8 districts throughout the country.
Monthly meetings are held by mutual aid organizations and a newsletter is published. members also participate in campaigns such as signature-drives for demanding unemployment measures, job-creation and budget for public works; and also in debates concerning women unemployment, etc, to make their voices heard on related matters.

3. Results of the Action Center

1) Support programs for unemployed women
Helped lessened the pain of unemployment through job counseling, technical training, providing job information, life & medical support and many women benefitted directly or indirectly from the programs.

At the national rally calling for 'the implementation of unemployment measures

for long-term unemployed workers and opposition to the reduction of public works' (June 17, 2000)

2) Organizing Unemployed Women
The greatest result achieved by the Action Center lies in the organizing of unemployed women and reflecting their voices on society.

3) Making Women's Unemployment a Social Issue
Undertaking situational studies through counseling, writing up reports and holding public debates, publicity campaigns through rallies and demonstrations. Helped change public opinion which only emphasized the pain of men's unemployment.

4) Policy Reflection
Many of the measures put forth by the Action Center were reflected in government policy such as the introduction of the special measures for unemployed women householders, extension of work for women in public projects, government research on  women-friendly public works, execution of the National Basic Livelihood Plan and guaranteeing minimum livelihood, etc.

4. For A New Start

Based on the results of the activities in 2001, the Action Center has currently been designated to carry out self-support projects in 7 different regions (Seoul, Ansan, Bucheon, Incheon, Machang, Gwangju, Busan). Through such projects, the Action Center will be able to carry out more active projects to aid poor women. The projects are expected to create a self-reliance model for women. Such high expectations were due to  the various educational programs, operation of work rooms and communities.

Urgent Measures Needed To Adjust Minimum Wages To
A Realistic Level

                             
                             PARK, Jin-young   Research Officer, KWWAU

1. Introduction

In the labor market, women workers currently constitute as sideline, irregular workers. According to governmental statistics (as of April 2001), women workers form 68.1% of temporary, day-work. One of the most serious consequences due to the increase in irregular work, is the increase in poverty.
As a result, the KWWAU and the KWTU carried out a study on the wage and working conditions of irregular

workers. Among the irregular women
workers, the study emphasized the conditions of middle-aged women working in restaurants or contracted as janitors as these women form the majority who faced severe employment instability and low wages. The study revealed the seriousness of the wage conditions of these women. The minimum wage condition must be considered as a policy issue to be reformed within the existing legal system and brought to a realistic level.

2. The Working & Living Conditions of Contracted Women Workers

The study was undertaken in April 2001 for a month in eight regions and in ten cities by examiners who filled out questionnaires in face-to-face interviews with women workers. The study was undertaken with two directions in mind. First, the study on the working conditions in contract agencies was undertaken on women who had longer first-hand working experience in the relevant worksites. The study covered 117 case studies of working conditions in 101 employee (worksites) and 101 employer enterprises (contract agencies). Out of the interviewees, 40.2% worked in universities, 16.2% in governmental and public agencies,  14.5% in corporations and 11.1% in private hospitals.
Second, on the aspect regarding living conditions and reforms needed, the study on the  living conditions of contracted workers in their respective contracted worksites was undertaken. The study included more worksites other than those mentioned above and totaled 528 women in 107 worksites and 107 contract agencies. Women workers in their 50s took up 42.1% and comprised the highest number. The next were in their 40s and 60s taking up 26.3% and 25.1% respectively. Research on educational levels showed that 12.3% had no education, 46.4% had received elementary education and 28.1% with middle-school education meaning that 86.7% had received education lower than middle-school levels. On the length of working years, the average was 34.3 months and average period of experience was 45.3 months showing clearly that even though these women were irregular workers with one-year contracts, the contracts were continuously renewed.

■ Wage and Living ConditionsThe study pointed out that the most serious problem faced by women workers was the problem of low wages. As such, this article was written with the purpose of concentrating on the problem of low wages and the working and living conditions of these women.

"Help people like us to receive some treatment too"- a situational survey of contract agency women workers
at a university hospital -

Waving the Flag Regardless
of Time and Place
    The Story of Jeong, Moon-ja(vice-chair, KWWAU Incheon Branch, director of the Bupyong Self-help Supporting Agency)

Self-support Activity Center Creates Hope

- discussion by coordinators of self

-support activity center -

Bae, Jin-Kyung   KWWAU Head of Public Relations

Moderator : Thank you for coming. It's really nice to see everyone in one place. Perhaps we can start off with a short briefing on the situation of self-support activity center in your respective areas.
Hong : In the case of Seoul, we were designated as a self-support activity center by the Guro local office in March 2001. We operate a common workshop for women and 15 women are participating in making stickers and completing pieces of sewing work. We have operated a sewing room since 1998 with the onset of the IMF crisis. First-class sewers came together to form this sewing room when they lost their jobs during the economic crisis. At the moment, 10 workers are fully employed most of the time and  monthly profits are high. There are low seasons but they have overcome them very well. We are entering our third year as a community and as a designated supporting center, we intend to turn the sewing workshop into a self-help community.
Jeong : Incheon started off with a sewing union set up under the Incheon KWWAU in 1996 and based on this, we were designated as a self-support activity center in August 2000. Free private nursing which started in July 2000 as commissioned by Incheon city, has become the basis for a profit-making private nursing community. There are 5 people in the lunchbox community, 10 participated in cutting the odds and ends of clothing. Of the 10, 3 are beneficiaries and 7 members of the local neighborhood. The profit-making private nursing community has sent 2 persons as leased workers and 10 people are receiving education. As part of the self-help projects, 15 participate in free housing repairs and 15 work as free private nurses. Free housing repair work and free private nursing work will be continued in the future as communities.
Kim : Bucheon has 35 women (who have received training in 1999 under the women householders' comprehensive training program and who have formed a collective called Durea, working as household helpers, mother's helpers (helping new mothers to take care of themselves and help with the baby) and private nurses. This was the basis for the start of the self-support activity center. We were designated as a supporting center in August  2000 and conditional beneficiaries were entrusted to us since last December. Last year, we emphasized group dynamics and education and projects were activated only this February. The welfare private nursing project was accepted as self-support activity work and upgraded in April with 44 people participating. 17 work as private nurses and 10 in community food projects. 7 are in the sewing project but as there is no space available yet for a common workshop, sewing work is just undertaken as sideline job. Straw craft work is being considered as a new project to be undertaken.
Jo : Ansan has created a Hansarang lunchbox community of women householders in 1999. Five women and the KWWAU invested a million won each, creating the third floor of the KWWAU into the facility required. However, as all the participants were women householders, it was difficult for them to start work early and all left the community. At the moment the project has been designated as a public self-support activity center and we provide support for other similar communities. There is room for 20 and 16 people are participating in the activity. In June 2000, a sewing community was started but owing to low needlework skill, most of our clients who were clothing exporters left us and we did not have enough work to meet the minimum wages. In addition, there was a strong tendency of the women to depend heavily on the KWWAU. At the present, the thread and needlework as part of the self-help project has been changed to a clothing completion project with 20 people participating. Partially-made clothing is brought from a sewing factory and completed. In July 2000, a comprehensive training program was undertaken and volunteers and self-help workers decided to open a common business, receiving more education and operating a community.
Jeong : Self-support activity center are at a disadvantage in the market economy. We are small, poorly skilled and yet have to create a profit. So as a long term prospect, we have decided to provide free meals to the elderly living alone and to young children who have to miss their meals. We are taking these activities as public projects and intend to ask the local government office to help us protect our market. It was a mistake for us to enter the lunchbox market so aggressively in the beginning. We did not have enough skill or money to compete with the existing businesses. Two thousand won is provided for children who have to miss their meals and as the childcare and after-school centers did not have enough people to cook for them, we were asked instead. Participating in such public projects (packing 100 lunch boxes per day) created enough profit to pay 4 to 5 women. We are not management experts but we needed to create a profit and so we had to change our project direction according to our skill and situation. I think this was the most difficult part in self-support activity center.

Moderator : How is the project progressing?
Jung : I think the lunchbox project and private nursing project is suitable for middle-aged women. When I was working at the Action Center for women's unemployment, I realized that there was no suitable work for these women. So we have created work for them. Another thing connected with self-support activity center was that we have provided welfare services to low-income families through the free housing repair project and free private nursing project. One side gets to work and the other side gets benefited from such projects. The free private nurses project has been well-received as the sick are left alone and have no one to care for them. Our people were proud that they were protecting the lives of the sick. Our free housing repairers were also proud that they were improving the living conditions in downtrodden mud huts. Third, we have rented the common room in the old people's home as a workshop for sideline work. Three people are beneficiaries of the program and  seven from the neighborhood. We realize now that self-help projects are also projects for the local residents. The workshop is not just an ordinary workshop but has become a meeting place for local residents. Residents with low income would drop by to get some work or just for a chat. One of our dreams is to play the role of a local meeting place and provide counseling and education as well as cultural activities in the workshop.
Hong : We have just started in Seoul and it is too early to predict results of the projects carried out. However, we could see changes in the attitude of the participants who are attempting to do something on their own without relying on government support. It is not easy for people to change but we were happy to see attitude changes sprouting. The programs can only be evaluated after a certain time period.
Kim : We have not much to show as results. Our women had worked at many jobs before taking the job as private nurses and are learning the skills and realizing that private nursing could be their lifeline in future. We also realize that other self-support activity center are finding their direction and becoming stable as time went by. On the local level, regulations have been set up last month for self-support activity and self-support funding within the Bucheon regional alliance. The regulations have been legally implemented. This is a big step in activating self-support activity center.
Jo : I don't think there is much difference in Bucheon, Seoul or Incheon and so I expect that the results are similar. We intend to open a cooperative office for 7 women who are working as mother's helpers and household helpers. Many started out in the project because basic living wages were provided but now women have regained their confidence while working and are not afraid to go out and work any longer. This is a big step for the women and toward the success of our project.

Moderator : What are the characteristics of self-support participants and the difficulties faced by them?
Jo : For self-support participants, wages and living expenses are both provided and 1/3 of participants say self-support activity center wages and the pleasure of working are more valuable to them. Another 1/3 say that self-support activity  are easier than steady jobs and so wished to participate in self-support activity center. The other 1/3 comprised of conditional beneficiaries who were forced to participate in self-support activity center to get their living expenses because if they do not participate, their wages would be reduced or cut off completely. The motives of the participants are different and the formation of a self-autonomous community takes time and effort. As such, continuous education and discussions are needed.
Jeong : The women workers were different from the women I met at the Action Center. They were all financially very badly off and in very poor health. I was worried how much these women could achieve in self-support programs. I wondered if our organization has been chosen for self-support activity and designated as a supporting agency for the purpose of overcoming such difficulties. Also, we accept both men and women beneficiaries. During counseling, women are more firm in their purposes to participate in self-support activity center. Women who are often sick and financially badly off would never give up and would just go for any kind of work available. So, we came to the conclusion that there would be possibilities if we concentrate on the women's sector and to gain expertise in certain fields.
Hong : There was a strong sense of futility and victimization among the women. It was emotionally difficult for them to meet people and there was no outside support services other than the basic wages given out. As time passed, the objectives of women's self-support programs became clear to us. Most of the women who came to work have a high sense of responsibility toward their families but their occupational outlook and occupational awareness were lower. It is difficult for us to fulfill such obligations but project participation would be an opportunity for them to become financially independent and help them contribute to society.
Kim : The women who participated in training programs for women householders are sicker than the women who came from the Action Center in our region and have little or no purposes for self-help. It is difficult as they come with no personal hopes but only the desire to remain within the self-support programs. The coordinators had no idea that these programs would grow into independent cooperatives in the beginning. Now we know that self-support programs could advance into independent cooperatives after six months. We must work to achieve this purpose.

Moderator : What kind of changes took place after participation in self-help projects?
Jeong : One of the characteristics was a strong sense of victimization and the tendency to remain indoors but continuous counseling and work participation has brought the women out. They look brighter and happier with the enjoyment of labor. Self-support programs help people to change. Women became healthier and brighter in expression. Additionally, with the passing of the difficult phase, women are turning their attention to other people. Self-support activity center provide more emotional benefits rather than economic benefits.  With emotional stability, women can go forward. This does not seem to happen automatically but through the endless efforts of our coordinators. We believed that they would change and the women lived up to our expectations. We are happy to see the women living with confidence.
Kim : I think it is a really big thing that the women have gained confidence. Working as welfare nurses provide a great deal of satisfaction to our women. They have only thought of themselves with difficulties but when they saw people who cannot move and lying alone, they became more emotionally stable. There was a woman who was very ill and could only work for three days as a private nurse. She was facing great financial difficulties due to bankruptcy and has lost all financial credibility. However, when the person who she was looking after became hospitalized, she put off everything to look after the person in the hospital even on her non-working days.
Jo : It is the same in Ansan. The women were getting plump, gaining 2 to 3 kgs. They all look brighter as they can see their future with hope. Most women work with enjoyment and it is a pleasure to see them change. Their financial situations are becoming better. They have gained confidence and firmer in purpose. They all looked better now.

Moderator: What are the personal changes which took place after coordinating self-support programs?
Jeong : I learn not to give up on people. Before, I would be angered at some wrong behavior and would contemplate whether to end our relationship or believe in the person but I have learn not to make up my mind so quickly. I learn to believe in the potential of people. It was not easy for me to decide and I thought a great deal about the matter. Working with such people was the most difficult.
Kim : Self-help programs allow you to meet people face-to-face. They make you think about people more in depth as self-support programs require much interpersonal relationships. We have to know about personal difficulties, desires and future hopes to build up an effective program.
Jo : You don't let people just pass you by. You look at them with more depth.
Hong : Not a big change but I learn to manage myself very well. We are open to other people and we spend time with them the whole day unlike the Action Center. Being closed up together in small quarters can flare tempers and depress my feelings.  I have learn to control myself in such situations as I could not release my anger on the women.

Moderator: What are the advantages of women-oriented self-helpprograms?
Jeong : It was easier for KWWAU to undertake women-oriented self-support programs as we provide comprehensive counseling. The Hotline for Equality provide legal counseling, the KWTU organizational support and the Action Center abundant experience on how to settle issues. We have long experience in providing women beneficiaries with emotional support through group counseling and education. We also think women-oriented programs are needed after working with both men and women in self-support programs. We found that we were only carrying out general projects and could not concentrate on women workers. Women have their own special characteristics, you know.
Kim : This is informal but we are only accepting women participants in self-support programs. Women enjoy being with other women. Women receive too much stress in their homes and there are some women in the program who avoid men. So women gather together and open themselves to each other.
Jo : Women are more resourceful than the men. It is good that such instinctive resourcefulness is continued in self-help programs. Women are comfortable in groups of threes and fives. It is possible to lead such groups into the formation of a  cooperative in future. That is how I see it.
Hong : In reality, the working experiences of the women are all different. I believe it is the duty of the KWWAU to provide solutions for women workers facing difficulties in employment because they have been cut off from the labor market due to childcare or housework. It is not easy to have this kind of perspective in self-support programs attended by both men and women. So we have the responsibility for setting up a model of women-oriented self-support programs. A different approach is needed for women workers. A comprehensive or emotional approach is needed. That would make the advantages of women-oriented self-support programs clearer and influence the results of the programs.

Moderator : What are your future plans and goals?
Hong : We have plans to increase our sewing room members to 40. We are also thinking about a workhand lease system. We would most probably start by offering free services but eventually would grow into a profit-making cooperative. We also plan to start a women's workshop for sideline work and are thinking about the possible items. We are just about to start and welcome any ideas and suggestions from other people with the same experience.
Jo : We have already carried out self-support programs and are about to start our supporting activities but I don't think there would be much difference in the type of work carried out. We only have to develop more projects and to progress into the  formation of a cooperative. We need to experiment with different types of self-support programs and to create a model in linking welfare and labor.
Kim : We also need to stabilize the projects undertaken and to develop more appropriate projects and also new projects to target fringe markets. We have to find ways to progress into cooperatives and how to set up a model for women-oriented self-support programs. Last year, we concentrated more on structure-building and since the emphasis was on self-support, we must try to achieve some results connected  with self-support programs in the later half of the year.
Jeong : We have more than 50 people participating and hope that they will all become independent within the year. The methods could be through cooperatives or opening businesses. We are trying to set up a program to self-support activity center about 100 people. And also to carry out research and education programs for both the coordinators and participants on the philosophy and future prospects of self-support programs. Since the framework has been established, long term prospects must be set up. We feel more responsibility because we are carrying out the work in the name of the KWWAU.  

1. Problems with the Basic Welfare Plan for Working Women
   Clause 5 of the Equal Employment Law makes it obligatory for the government to formulate a basic plan regarding the social we1fare of working women. Yet it was only in December 1993, six years after the enactment of the Law, that the Ministry of Labor presented its draft of the 'Basic Welfare Plan for Working Women.'

   On one hand, this proposa1 -- which was drafted with the objective of guaranteeing equal opportunity and treatment for men and women, securing maternity benefits for women, and contributing to the elevation of women's social status and welfare by developing better employment skills -- reflects the success of the women's and labor union struggles of the past.

   Yet, when considering the contents of the Basic Plan. it remains questionable whether the government truly intended to implement a proper women's labor policy. The proposal, for example, claims to promote women's employment by expanding temporary work opportunities without any regard to the problem of employment instability that will undoubtedly arise. Regarding maternity benefits, the proposa1, rather than presenting any measures for improving harsh working conditions, only includes plans to reduce benefits instead.

   More specifically, the problems of the proposed women's welfare plan can be summarized as follows:

2. The Basic Plan states that the government's welfare policy for working women has passed through three periods: the stage of 'special protection' (1953~80), the stage of welfare benefits (1981~86) and the period of groundwork construction for the realization of gender equality (1987~92).

   The current proposal is purported to reflect the next policy stage, in which the creation and execution of more concrete policies to effect gender equality are in demand.

   Despite such assertions, it is clear that this plan represents only an incipient stage in preparing the most basic foundations for gender equality. This is evident from the fact that the Basic Plan was first proposed six years after the execution of the Equal Employment Law, that the female bank employee system (a system by which male and female bank employees were categorized separately for purposes of discriminatory job advancement) was not abolished until 1993, and that the government has deemed audits lasting unti1 1997 necessary to oversee the adequate execution of the Equa1 Employment Law in companies with over 10O employees.

   It is also clear, when considering gender discrimination in wages, job post distribution, advancement, recruitment, and hiring that even the most basic foundation for equa1ity has yet to be formed.

3. The fact that 48.6 percent (1993 statistics) of the economically active female population is employed shows that women comprise a substantial portion of the social labor force. Yet, women's wages only equal 55.7 percent of men's wages, a figure that is lower than that for other countries at a similar stage of economic development; the corresponding percentages for the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia are 80, 74, and 76 percent respectively.

   Such a low wage reflects the extent to which women's labor has been devalued as a result of deep-rooted gender discrimination within the social structure

   Despite such conditions, the government continues to assume only a lukewarm attitude towards the implementation of the equa1-pay for equa1_work system, proposing only to develop an academic model to compare the relative values or different jobs.

   Both government and business must now realize that the logic of low-wage labor as a means of fostering economic competitiveness is 1osing its persuasiveness domestically and internationally. They must also acknowledge that the equal pay for equal-work system will make it easier to foster better purchasing power, technological advancement, and higher productivity.

   Consequently, in order to overcome indiscriminate wage discrimination on the basis of gender, job type, education level, and region, the government must introduce more rational systems like work value comparisons, institute reforms of the income and employment structures, and eliminate the gender-differentiated system of job advancement.

4. The Ministry's welfare plan does not include policies regarding employment instability, the most central area of concern for women's and labor organizations, and instead only proposes ways of worsening job instability by expanding part-time and dispatch labor. Proposals for promoting women's employment are also greatly lacking when compared to plans for senior citizens and the disabled; these plans only mention part-time work as a means of increasing job opportunities.

   The Ministry of Labor has already reported the ratio of part-time workers in the manufacturing sector as totaling only two percent. In a situation in which most part-time workers are so-called 'nomina1' part-timers (labeled part-time, but working the same number of hours as full-timers), the government's plans regarding part-time workers who actually work shorter hours will be ineffective at best.

   This system is also sure to worsen employment instability for women workers.

5. It is a positive development that the proposal reflects certain issues that women's labor groups have consistently demanded in the past, issues including a 90-day maternity leave, paid abortion leave. leaves for periodic examinations during pregnancy. paid childcare leave, and maternity leaves for spouses.

   However, the Basic Plan only mentions its intent to expand maternity benefits in exchange for reducing 'special protection' for women (menstruation 1eave and limits on women's employment, extended labor, and night-time work), but does not enumerate any concrete measures for realizing these goals.

   First, we believe it to be contradictory that the Ministry, while purporting to expand maternity protection. at the same time proposes to eliminate menstruation leave, which represents a social protection of an important biological function needed for reproduction. We cannot accept an elimination of menstruation leave that gives no consideration to the harsh working conditions of women workers.

   This hasty elimination of menstruation leave goes against international trends towards the expansion of maternity benefits and threatens to further destabilize labor-management relations

6. The Basic Plan states that as the provision of equal employment opportunities is inadequate in bringing about full gender equality, a temporary system of preferential treatment in hiring is needed. But again, more concrete plans or methods for execution of this idea are not proposed.

   Our immediate demands for revising the Basic Welfare Plan.

   After numerous discussions regarding the Basic Welfare Plan, women's labor organizations after consulting the opinions of specialists, organized the following demands for a revised women's labor policy:

   1. Policy proposal for the elimination of employment instability and the promotion of job opportunities for women
      • We oppose the enactment of the 'Law Regarding the Proper Management of Worker Dispatch Agencies and the Protection of Dispatch Workers,' for this law is intended to legalize the currently illegal worker dispatch system.

        The best means of protecting dispatch workers is to entirely prohibit the dispatch system and to shift these workers into full-time work. Instead of legalizing this system, the government must strengthen public job security measures.

      • Policies to regulate temporary employment (such as part-time, dispatch, and contract-based employment) must be created. A second item must be added to Clause 29 of the Basic Labor Standards Act to ensure that contracts for full-time work are concluded for workers employed for over three months.
      • Policies to promote women's employment opportunities must focus on the expansion of regular, permanent employment. In addition as workers currently hired as part-timers can be 1abeled 'employees,' as defined in Clause I4 of the Basic Labor Standards Act (defined only on the basis of wage or salary, without regard to type of job, as a person who earns his/her livelihood based on such income), the Basic Labor Standards Act must be applied in full to these workers. Under the principles of equality and nondiscrimination, temporary workers must be ensured the same rights as permanent workers.
      • The Employment insurance Executive Order must be applied to those companies with over five employees. the standard set in the Basic Labor Standards Act.
      • To promote employment opportunities for women, government and public offices must carry out a 20 percent employment quota for women.
      • Job training facilities for women must be expanded and equal training carried out for men and women. A quota system must also be adopted when recruiting students for job training programs.
   2. Policy proposals for the expansion of maternity benefits
      • We absolutely oppose the proposed change menstruation leave from paid to unpaid status.
      • Special protective provisions for women, including prohibitions of nighttime and overtime work, as well as work during holidays must be expanded in accordance with international trends. Such provisions as free medica1 examinations, emergency facilities, and provision of social services must be changed into an equality measure applicable to both men and women.
      • Extension of maternity leave to over 9O days, provision of medical examination leave during pregnancy, and a paid abortion leave must be newly established.
   3. Policy proposals for the realization of gender equality
      • To bring about a gender-equal education, The Equal Employment Law must be revised to make the definition of sexual discrimination more concrete. to prepare temporary measures for the preferential treatment of women, and to include such measures as guaranteed paid childcare leave of one year.
      • Supervision of women's labor rights needs to be strengthened and the corresponding government departments expanded.
   4. Policy proposals for the social welfare of working women
      • Regional facilities to promote women's employment need to be expanded and government funding for these activities increased.
      • Dining services need to be begun in the schools. The government must also take primary responsibility for management funds.
   5. Policy proposals for the reform and internationalization of labor-management relations
      • The Labor Union Law and the Regulatory Law on Labor Disputes must be revised
      • We oppose all modifications to the Basic Labor Standards Law, including the institutionalization of variable labor hours and the elimination of the monthly leave.
      • All imprisoned workers must be released with their charges pardoned. and returned to their original jobs. All searches for politically sought workers must also be abandoned, and all laid-off workers reinstated to their origina1 jobs.
      • In this era of internationalization, ILO labor provisions must be ratified immediately.
   We now face the urgent need to translate the rights of women workers into concrete policies, The realities and difficulties of women workers must be adequately reflected in the draft of the 1994 Basic Welfare Plan for Working Women so that the plan will guarantee the goals of employment security and maternity protection for women. Both the continued individual efforts of women workers and the collective struggles of labor unions are needed for this effort.

On December 9. l993, amidst intensified national opposition to rice import liberalization, the Kim Young-sam government announced its abandonment of the countryside and Korea's national sovereignty by declaring its support of the Uruguay Rounds. This statement, which surrenders our position even before the UR negotiations have been settled, represents an outright violation of the president's electoral promise to 'stake the presidency to protect our rice.

In spite or such action. the government has also begun a national publicity campaign proclaiming the UR settlement to be a success. The publicity claims that the Korean agreement is much more advantageous than the Japanese one because of such measures as the ten-year extension of rice import tariffs and the agreement that foreign imports will not take up more than 1-4 percent of the domestic market.

However, as Korea still has a trade deficit and as rice farming makes up 23. 7 percent of all income from farming, claiming that our agreement is more advantageous does not give much comfort to Korean farmers. Import liberalization for rice and other basic farm products is certain to bring about the devastation of our farmers' 1ivelihood and our country's agricultural management.

Driving their farming vehicles, farmers stage a street demonstration in opposition to the country's ratification of the Uruguay Rounds. The UR agreement would liberalize imports of rice other basic farm products.

In response to this situation, the November IO National Women Farmers' Conference made clear its position of absolute opposition to import liberalization for rice and basic farm products. The November 12 National Farmers' Conference also drew national public attention to the issue.

This struggle against UR has proceeded in several ways, including the movement to return farm equipment to suppliers, demonstrations of protest before the National Assembly due to its lukewarm response to import liberalization, and a pan-citizenry signature petition drive to oppose rice import liberalization.

Currently, the government is attempting to bring up the UR ratification bill for passage in the upcoming special session of the Nationa1 Assembly. to be held this June 1994. The fact that Korea is taking such early steps to pass the UR agreement when no other country has made similar moves is an indication of politica1 pressures from the U. S. . a country which also faces strong domestic opposition and would find it easier to ratify UR if Korea did so first.

Continued U. S. pressure to liberalize imports of marine products and substandard sausage meat is another indication of the existence of U. S. political pressure.

The fight to oppose the ratification of the Uruguay Rounds is not yet over. The Korean Farmers League is planning another rally to oppose the ratification, and other student and 1abor groups, including the National Trade Union Representatives Association, are planning a united struggle.

This struggle to oppose rice and farm product import liberalization is a fight to reclaim our nation's sovereignty and our people's hea1th. It is a struggle to preserve our environment and natural ecosystem so as to pass down a healthy land to our children. We urge all citizens of our land to join in this national struggle for our people's health and livelihood.

1. The repeal of paid menstruation about the deterioration of working conditions.

   Over 50 percent of women experience physical symptoms during menstruation, including vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pains, waist and hip pains, general discomfort, psychological fatigue and depression, and mental strain. Among these women, 25 percent feel pain severe enough to obstruct every day activity, and 40. 4 percent of women workers note abnormal changes in their menstruation after quitting their jobs.

   Despite the fact that so many women workers experience such menstrual pains at work, menstruation leave is not currently being used freely. Women cite extra burdens to co-workers during leave, the dissatisfaction of managers, and the opportunity to supplement their low wages with the leave benefit as reasons for the low usage rate.

   In a situation rn which low wages and high labor intensity make usage of menstruation leave difficult. it can be expected that even less, if any women will opt to use the leave if it is changed to unpaid leave granted only at the request of the worker.

   In addition, when we consider that the leave is now being used by many women as a means of supplementing a wage level that only amounts to 55. 7 percent of male wages, making menstruation leave unpaid would amount to a cut in women workers' wages.

   Finally, women workers now withstand harsh working conditions, including long hours sometimes exceeding 44 hours a week, work that requires standing, and alternative day and night work. As even the monthly and annual leaves are not being used freely, repealing menstruation leave would signify great losses for maternity protection

2. Repeal of paid menstruation leave represents an effort to ignore the social responsibilities for maternity.

   The level of maternity bene5ts remains extremely low compared with international standards. Repealing menstruation leave without considering improvements in working conditions, shortened working hours, and expansion of leave benefits will only worsen working conditions and result in further deterioration of maternity protection.

   Although the government has promised to institute a fetal examination leave system in exchange for repealing menstruation leave, no concrete measures or executive orders have been presented. In a situation where the Equal Employment Law is only being nominally applied and where the existing maternity protection system has not been solidified. it is impossible to accept further retractions of protection through the repeal of this leave.

   In addition, the Ministry of Labor claims that companies avoid hiring women because of the burden of financing menstruation and maternity leaves.

   Yet, the Ministry fails to consider that rather than maternity protection itself, it is the government's labor policies, which place the entire financial burden on companies, that is the cause of such company actions.

   In the end, it is clear that the Ministry's proposal to make menstruation leave unpaid is aligned with the intent of business to worsen working conditions by repealing the monthly leave and instituting a system of flexible working hours, all under the name of strengthening international competitiveness. The idea that women's employment will be expanded by repealing menstruation leave represents only the intent of government to avoid its social responsibilities for maternity protection.

3. Paid menstruation leave must not be repealed.

   The responsibility for reproducing and rearing the young leaders of the next generation lies not on the woman as an individual, but on society as a whole.

   For this reason, maternity protection must take all maternal functions, including their formation, realization, and decline, as targets for benefits. Because a woman's menstruation is directly related to maternal functions like pregnancy and childbirth, menstruation leave must without doubt be continued as a form of maternity protection.

   Rather than repealing the very minimal measures of maternity protection for purposes of international competitiveness government and business must focus more attention on raising the working conditions of both male and female workers to international standards. Only when both male and female workers can be assured secure employment can international competitiveness be secured.

   Hence, we absolutely can and will not accept a repeal of menstruation leave before we see improvements in working conditions, shortened hours, the elimination of low wages, guaranteed paid health leaves, and full employment equality for women.

4. Plan of action for the women's labor movement

   Women's labor movement groups (including the Korea Trade Union Congress. Korean Congress of Independent Industrial Unions Federation, Korean Women Workers Associations United, and the Labor Committee of the Korea Women's Associations United, which consists of the Inchon and Seoul Women Workers Associations and the Korea Women's Association for Democracy and Sisterhood) adopted a formal and collective resolution opposing the repeal of paid menstruation leave.

   In addition, these groups presented the "Position of Women's Groups regarding the Repeal of Paid Menstruation Leave" to the National Assembly during the January l8 regular session of the Assembly's Labor Committee. They are currently awaiting an answer to their request for an interview with the Prime Minister.

   In addition, public information flyers opposing the repeal of the leave have been made and distributed. Polls are also being planned in order to survey the extent to which the leave is being used, as well as workers' opinions regarding the necessity of having menstruation leave.

   Other plans for a signature petition drive and a campaign to encourage the use of the leave are being considered. Labor unions and women's organizations will also gather complaints of cases in which the leave was requested but refused or was given in a biased manner.

   These cases will be gathered and used to publicize company violations. Finally, a rally to oppose the repeal will be planned.

   In these ways, women's labor movement groups plan to continue their collective struggle to oppose the repeal of paid menstruation leave. The women's movement remains resolved to intensify their fight even further in the case that menstruation leave is repealed.