Min Na Park(Editorial staff of Seoul Women Workers Association)

Working women are beautiful but have difficult jobs. In the workplace, women suffer from traditional gender discrimination. Married women face problems such as pregnancy, child delivery and child care as well as demanding husbands and housework.

At that point, many working women give up. So, the working women who obtain gains are much more beautiful. Cho, Yo-Ock thinks it is pitiful that working women stop working because they have to take care of their children. However, she thinks this more importantly depends on her will to work. Due to her strong self-confidence, she worked until the day she gave birth, and was able to continue working happily, although she carried her babies on her back. Let's listen to her story, who has worked with enthusiasm and who is now turning 40 years old.

• Ox-feeding girl having a great desire to learn more

  She was born as the sixth child amongst six daughters and one son, in the small Ocksan village, Pado-ri, Toji-myon, Kooryeh-kun in 1959. Her family was destitute in a poor village. Her siblings were intelligent and good students in primary school, but it was very difficult for the girls to go to secondary high school, because they were responsible for taking care of the family ox, the only family treasure.

  However, Cho, Yo-Ock was determined and finally managed to go to secondary high school, 7 miles far away from her home. She was often scolded: 'I will burn your school uniform and books'. In the 60s, people were poor but those memories are warm and valuable.

  When she was close to graduating from secondary high school, she could not help but wanting to study further. However, going to high school was almost impossible in her poor family situation, even though she was told that she had passed the high school examination. The industrial high school run by the Hanil Composite Textile located in Masan, appealed to her like a good rain in a draught.

  However, her life in the dormitory was awful because holidays were available only once a month and there was a roll-call for students every evening. Working in the production line and processing fleece was very dusty and hard work. Her sister was kind enough to wash her uniform and help her a lot, but she waited for the days when she could return home.

• Sprout of the labor movement grown in the JOC

  The day she went to the Catholic Women's Hall with her friend is an important turning point in her life. At that time, the Yang Duck Cathedral was located in the Hall. She was baptized at that church and joined the JOC. Her interest for the labor movement developed when listening to struggles in the labor movement such as the Dong-il women workers' struggle.

  After graduating from industrial schools women workers usually take up work in electronic companies where job are easier and wages are high. They are tired of the hard work in the textile and garment industries. She too changed job and moved to the Dong Kyong Silicon. After her sister's marriage, she lived in a dormitory run by a nunnery. Many dormitory mates worked at other companies and this was helpful for her work as a member of JOC.

  Before 1987, no independent trade unions were set up in the Masan and Changwon area. It was the same in the Dong Kyong Silicon. She was involved in forming various small groups, carrying out daily activities like resisting to frisks. In the course of preparing to organize a trade union, she was selected as a full-time head of the Education Dept. in the JOC. She never took a break at that time.

  It was 1984 when she went to Seoul because she was elected as a woman president of the National headquarter of the JOC, due to her very positive activities. However, she faced several difficulties because of the conservative attitudes of the Seoul headquarters and its conflicts with local branches.

  She mentioned that she had been able to overcome hardships thanks to the assistance of a supervisor, Father Michael. Working with him was helpful. Because he is open minded and progressive, he established people-centered programs for ordinary people. She got much help from him and was influenced by him.

• Working in Ansan

  After working for two years, she then started working for the Labor Section of the Won Kok Cathedral where friends associated with the JOC had already settled down. Initially the labor movement was very limited there, but it was the time when some people-centered churches and many activitists started working. A cathedral is a good shield for those activists. It was usually open for organizational gatherings and meetings. Because of her activities there, she was often confined in the Kwang-myong police station during chilly winters and smelly summers.

  She worked overnight to prepare for organizing meetings, undertaking education and counselling programs, and performing other activities which can never be stopped. During the large labor struggles of July, August and September, 1987, she contributed to setting up numerous trade unions as if she were a union-making machine.

• Establishing a true world for human beings

  In 1988 she was so busy that she worked until the moment she was taken to hospital to deliver her baby. She took only a month's leave and then went to her office with her baby on her back. She thinks that caring for children is a full-time job. Conflicts usually occur when helps in taking care of children is expected from others. But, she does not want to stop working because of child care. She thinks this is because of her strong will.

  Her situation did not change when she delivered her second baby. She did her best when working and had her children beside herself. It was quite difficult to organize meetings, to participate in rallies, and to undertake activities under those circumstances. In 1990 when a military policeman was killed, the regime started to raid activists' homes. Even though her eldest son was very young, suddenly all of her families had to flee at 1:00 a.m.

  The more she has had these kinds of experiences, the more she has been willing to work, even though she felt sorry for her family. Maybe she is more ambitious to work. Since joining the JOC, she has not even taken a day off. She cannot stop working because she strongly disagrees with the controlling rule over the world.

  She is interested in education for workers and advocates principle of 'labor school', and education programs in the Labor section of the Church. She thinks that workers' education should be based on humanitarianism. Her interest in educating workers is in developing a democratic people with strong beliefs in eliminating hardships in society; she wants to develop people's capacity to find and solve problems for themselves through participatory education.

  Since the labor movement works for human beings, it should be accessible and friendly to correspond to people's demands and circumstances. So, she is working to set up a new model of the movement in accordance with the times. Since her participation in the activities of the JOC, she has viewed the labor movement as her calling, but she has felt limited in working in the Labor Section of the church. In spite of current trends towards specialization, she was limited to working for this weak labor organization without any area of speciality and without being paid.

• Transformation into women labor activist

  In the course of her activities, she joined KWWAU and became responsible for the Ansan Women Workers' Welfare Center (affiliated with the KWWAU). This has not only increased her awareness of women's issues but has also led to the projects for women workers are need.

  In her work, not only her slogan is, 'go to your workplace with specific programs in mind', which means not only to carry out programs for people seeking these programs, but also searching for people needing these programs. Thus, in conjunction with local child-care centers, she held classes for parents and carried out parenthood programs which have been welcome by local people.

  She believes that organizing and developing the programs well received by people will bring about mutual support between those at grassroots levels. She mentions that she has worked like a horse for the last eight months, since opening the Ansan WWA. Through this, she believes that her views on women workers have become more clearer. "I believe everything starts from individuals.

  Nothing is more important than the individual's firm will to change society. Sincere self-control encourages people to develop capabilities and to consolidate passions as activists. Women's powers grow stronger and stronger if women's own characteristics can be developed and improved."

  Since the Ansan WWA started, she smiles and says that work has accumulated every day even though she works hard to accomplish all tasks. The most important thing is to organize people with care and compassion, to be interested in women workers' issues. She hopes to make her organization friendly and accessible to people. Through such efforts, I believe that her hopes and dreams for making joyful and equal society will finally come true like trees blooming in the spring.

• Drinking and Recalling memories

  Translator's note: Drinking amongst friends is an important way of socializing in the Korean society and the labor movement. It is a way for people to let off steam, and to promote friendship and open discussion.

  I ask what is the most difficult in her work. Unexpectedly, she says that she is lonely. Of course, she is always thankful to her husband who understands and supports her 100%, but she also feels some emptiness which she cannot share with him. People have at least one old good friend who can listen to problems, but she usually is the senior person in her activities because many people have left NGOs for a variety of reasons.

  At the age of 40, she would like to have a good friend to talk with when she is lonely and to drink with, but she cannot easily think of anyone to do that with. When we recall our past, we do not meet people without any tension. I hope time will change under new political regime, and in the future people will go to the Kumkang mountain (located in North Korea)....

  Translator's Note : [] Mountain Kumgang carries much meaning for the South Korean people as it has become a symbol of national reunification.

  Then, I hope the day will come when we can sit, talk, and drink without worries.... Before that day, I would like to drink with her, talking about the old stories that she has not shared yet.

This section will appear regularly in this volume, because we feel the need to report regularly the activities of the Action Center for Women's Unemployment (ACWU) in Working Women. The ACWU has been established. This article is an abstract from the monitoring report on public employment centers issued by the ACWU affiliated with the KWWAU on November 30, 1998. This article summarizes the 'results of survey on unemployed women' and 'policy suggestions to strengthen functions of public employment offices'.

1. Analyzing results of surveys on unemployed women

   The survey was conducted by the KWWAU and Seoul Women Workers' Association in the Seoul area, Inchon Women Workers' Association in the Inchon area, Kwangju Women Workers' Association in the Kwangju area, and the Action Center of Women's Unemployment. affiliated with the Pusan Women's Association in the Pusan area.

   This survey aims at finding better ways to identify and solve a variety of difficulties that unemployed women confront, when they cannot easily be employed and when they cannot find adequate counsel. The survey targeted unemployed women with the distribution of 1,000 questionnaires. Out of them, 721 questionnaires were returned and used for this analysis.

   Divided by region, 201 questionnaires were collected from Seoul, 170 from Pusan, 146 from Inchon, and 204 from Kwangju. Among them, 497 women were registered with public offices as job seekers, but 220 were not. The questionnaires with no replies were excluded from this analysis.

   1. Characteristics of the sample

      Unemployed women responsible for family finances make up 58.7% of the survey. Those who have previous working experiences account for 91.9% of the total respondents. Their jobs prior to their unemployment were ordinary clerical (28.4%) and sales women in the service sector (26.0%), which are the great majority. As many as 72.3% represent women who had stopped working within a year.

      Duration of unemploymen
      

      Duration when women are not employed	Frequency	％
      within a year	474	72.3
      2-3 years	95	14.5
      4-5 years	21	3.2
      5-7 years	22	3.3
      +8 years	44	6.7

   2. Results from the survey on unemployed women registered as job seekers with public employment offices

      The women registered with public offices make up 69.3 % numbering 497 persons, among the total respondents. In terms of the public employment offices where they are registered, local labor offices represent 38.1%, manpower banks 20.1%, Industrial Manpower Corp. 26%, District offices 19.9%, the offices of Dong 22.8%, and other public offices 13.9%.

      Also, unpaid temporary agencies account for 0.4%, paid agencies for 0.8%, manpower agencies for 0.8%, Action Centers for Women's Unemployment for 7.2%, and others for 0.6%. Therefore, the offices where the greatest number of women are registered are local labor offices. The offices of Dong are where women usually register themselves for public work. The average number of registered offices is 1.15.

      Numbers of contacts by public employment offices to unemployed people for job placemen
      

      Number of contacts by employment offices	Frequency	％
      once	130	27.4
      2-3 times	55	11.6
      over 4 timesv	26	5.5
      nil	263	55.5

      The reasons for the low rates of job placement are that 40.6% of unemployed women think that jobs are not available, 14.2% regard their careers as not professional and skilled, 17.6% think they are too old, while the low percentage of 6.2% of women indicate that officers are unhelpful and indifferent.

      Why do you think that you are informed of few jobs?
      

      Reasons	Frequency	％
      jobs are unavailable	131	40.6
      officers are insincere	20	6.2
      I am not professional	46	14.2
      I am too old	57	17.6
      I am married	17	5.3
      other	52	16.1

      Concerning the item related to their acceptance of jobs when there was a job opening, 56.5% of women answered that they accepted the job, which is slightly higher than 43.5% who replied that they have not. The reasons for not working despite the job opening were that 33.3% of women said the job was different to the announcement, 17.9% were refused by companies, and 16.7% that the job was temporary, and 13.1% that the working atmosphere made them uneasy. In particular, the reply with the highest percentage confirmed that the job information provided by public employment offices was not adequate and precise.

      Why did you not accept the job opening?
      

      Reasons for not taking positions	Frequency	％
      Jobs were different	28	33.3
      Jobs were temporary	14	16.7
      Working atmospheres were strange	11	13.1
      I was refused by the company	15	17.9
      Other	16	19.0

      The highest percentage of women(38.4%) indicated that the job was different to what they wanted, although the job had been found through public employment offices. Regarding the question about if they registered again after their three-month period, 24.6% of women did re-register, while 43.7% did not re-register, which is over two times the number of re-registered women. The highest percentage (56.6%) of women replied that they did not re-register because they were not guaranteed employment.

      Did you re-register after the three months?
      

      Whether they re-registered or not	Frequency	％
      Yes	90	24.6
      No	160	43.7
      I am not eligible (because three months already passed by)	116	31.7

      Why did you not re-register?
      

      Reasons for not	Frequency	％
      Employment is	98	56.6
      I was already employed	16	9.2
      It is easier to find jobs placed by others than by employment agencies	6	3.5
      I did not have time	19	11.0
      others	34	19.7

      Amongst the respondents, 30.4% identified poor information provision as negative aspects of their counseling, 21.0% mentioned unprofessional job counselling, 17.5% said of officers' rude behaviour, 9.0% said that they felt embarrassed to bother others and to ask for help when the offices were crowded by other job seekers, 8.8% felt the same embarrassment because they had to expose their problems in public as the offices had no partitions between the various sections, and 7.6% mentioned shortage of counselling time.

      To improve the current practices, as much as 27.4% indicated the importance of detailed job information, 24.7% professional job counselling, 20.7% the necessity for the provision of a variety of job information, 18.1% kind and detailed counselling, and 7.9% increasing number of counsellors (with enough counselling time).

      Negative aspect of their counselling
      (The highest two are counted.)
      

      Uncomfortable things in their counselling	Frequency	％
      impoliteness	131	17.5
      lack if job information	227	30.4
      unprofessional counseling	157	21.0
      shortage of counselling time	57	7.6
      noisiness	18	2.4
      I have to read others' minds because the space is not separate.	66	8.8
      I have to read others' minds because it is crowded.	67	9.0
      Other	25	3.3

      Requirement to improve counselling effectively
      

      Requirement to	Frequency	％
      Professional counselors are needed	202	24.7
      Kind and detail counseling is needed	148	18.1
      The increasing number of counselors are needed (in enough counseling time)	64	7.9
      More detailed job information is needed	224	27.4
      A variety of types of jobs are needed	169	20.7
      Other	10	1.2

      Unemployed women wanted a variety of unemployment-related information as well as registration at the same time. Amongst 496 women registered as job-seekers, 94.4% (excluding no replies) indicated the necessity of the provision of unemployment-related information as well as job placement counselling, although the provision of other unemployment-related information accounted for only 32.3%. This represents that adequate one-stop services in public employment offices are not performed. Additionally, most of the cases show that varied and professional job information are not guaranteed, although 16.6% received information on vocational training and 11.0% received public work out of unemployment-related information.

      Did you receive any information, excluding job registration, from public employment offices?
      

      Whether you received any info. excluding job registration	Frequency	％
      Yes	153	32.3
      No	321	67.7

      Do you need any unemployment-related information excluding job placement?
      

      Whether you need any unemployment-related info	Frequency	％
      very much	233	50.9
      yes	204	44.5
      so so	20	4.4
      unnecessary	1	0.2

      Women who feel the necessity for counseling offices(or sections) specializing in form large majority (86.7%) (52.3% replied 'very much', and 34.4% 'yes'). This is in contrast with the replies from public employment offices which did not feel the necessity.

   3. Results from the survey targeting unregistered women

      Unemployed women who had not registered as job seekers numbered 220. As much as 48.2% of them mentioned that they had not registered because they had not known, and 23.3% because employment is not guaranteed; this formed the majority of the respondents.

      In particular, "I don't know" made up 50% of all replies, this confirms poor public campaigning and poor performance by public employment offices, and the necessity for strengthening their functions. Women who want to be registered as job seekers made up 71.6% and those who registered 19.6%, which means that 91.2% women indicated their intention to be registered in the future.

2. Policy Suggestions for consolidating functions of public employment offices - Upgrading significantly the functions of public employment offices, and establishment of independent women's counselling centers-

   1. Basic goals for public employment offices responsible for job placement should be established

      Why do women need the expansion and consolidation of functions of public employment offices! Since the offices have generally dealt with job placement for regular workers in their 20s and 30s, women have instead had to find jobs through paid private agencies.

      Thus, women job-seekers who form the highest number of job seekers are severely affected by this situation. The basic principle that public employment offices should take responsibility for job placement is to firmly be established. The ILO guideline for unpaid job replacement should be used as a reference.

      Additionally, NGOs should function as job placement centers in connection between public employment office and private agencies, without charging workers. The enacted Dispatched Law should also be reviewed.

   2. Independent women's counselling sections for new female labor force should be significantly improved

      It is very difficult for the new female labor force, recent graduates and women re-entering the labor force to find work. They have little job information and lack self-confidence, and find it difficult to look for work. Hence, public offices should expand their job campaigns, and their functions should be consolidated as follows;

      Firstly, there should be more recruiters and they should be managed adequately. Public employment offices should look for recruiters actively. In particular, employment offices should convince employers not to take into consideration women's marital status when recruiting.

      Secondly, more detailed and sensitive counselling is needed. Public employment offices should encourage female job seekers who lack self-confidence through promoting their self-confidence and providing them with detailed information on how to find work. Also, professional counselors should be employed in order to help women adapt to their workplaces and their management should be consolidated.

   3. A system of counseling for women should be established in public employment offices

      Counseling system for women are demanded by many women because they are aware of inadequate job placement services and poor provision of job information in public employment offices.

      Due to severe job segregation between men and women, a shortage of jobs for women, and the underevaluation of the female labor force, it is difficult for the offices to increase the number of female employment through ordinary management and occupational classification. Therefore, a system for independent management of the female labor force in all employment offices is desperately needed.

      Also, women counselors should be employed. In addition, recruiters for women should be guaranteed and managed systematically. Their job placement should be structured and announced on the government employment office's homepage (www.work.go.kr) in order to monitor long-term employment trends and recruitment characteristics, and to share all related information amongst job-seekers.

   4. The Management and monitoring of publicly paid private job agencies should be reinforced

      According to information provided by the Ministry of Labor, only 380 cases of unreasonable job placement were found, and only 24 cases of their illegal activities in job placement were found by labor-related offices in 1998.

      Under the current circumstances in which many women find their jobs through community publications many women continued to be cheated, and an increasing number of women are abused by private agencies who assist them in their employment process. Thus the offices involved should tighten their monitoring of private agencies.

   5. District-based employment offices should be opened, professional counselors should be allocated, and the functions of local governing bodies should be strengthened in close cooperation with national and public offices

      The survey shows the different functions of local government's public employment offices. One of the most essential services performed by local governing bodies is the provision of job placement and counselling services under the current uncertain and insecure economic crisis. It is highly desirable that women be provided with a variety of job information by local public employment offices.

   6. Professionalism and continuous counselling by public employment offices should be ensured

      Both the unemployed women and the job counselors themselves often feel the presence of two few counselors and of their lack of professional training. Interviews with job counselors show that counselors themselves face job insecurity since they are employed under one-year contracts.

      In some foreign countries, these jobs are stable and the officers are not moved to other government departments or other regions because their tasks are graded as highly professional and their performance is desirable. The number of counselors should be increased and their professionalism and long-term employment should be guaranteed in the very near future.

   7. Managing the function of the public employment office to guarantee the number of recruiters

      In terms of the types of occupations performed by women, they are usually insecure and in very small-size firms, the offices involved should therefore strengthen their supervision and monitoring of the activities of recruiters. In addition, recruiters for women should be guaranteed. Most desirable would be to activate all recruitment through public employment offices and to include a maximum of job information on its homepages: systemization is required.

   8. The current counseling atmosphere should be improved immediately.

      Based on survey results, many offices are very noisy. Their offices are shared with other sections. The counselling atmosphere is very noisy and disturbing to the unemployed women because the various offices are not separated. Women replied that they felt uneasy because they had to try to read others' minds. Clearly, the counselling atmosphere including face-to-face counselling should be improved.

   9. Distribution of job information should be immediately expanded to Working Women's Houses and other non-governmental organizations

      This is a matter of data processing and networking on issues of employment with government and NGOs cooperation under the current situation of mass unemployment. Sharing information facilitates job placement and upgrades the quality of counselors. This also promotes the effective development of softwares based on sharing information and experiences in the workplace.

      The government has already planned to direct its efforts toward the improvement of 'the establishment of cooperative systems between educational organizations and those related to job placement' in its project of data processing and distribution of job-related information. Its range should be immediately expanded to working Women's Houses and free job agencies.

Working Women Vol.16

October, 1998
A edition committee member of KWWA
Catoon : Yang Son Jang

Amidst the economic crisis, women workers' livelihoods are in a whirlwind of insecurity.
But, women workers have not given up. You can see more intense and stronger struggles for obtaining job security under these difficult conditions.

---

Special
ESTABLISHEING THE WOMEN'S UNEMPLOYMENT PREVENTION CENTER, A SHIELD OF THE FEMALE UNEMPLOYED FROM THE IMF
Activity diares of the Women's Unemployement Prevention Center in Pictures

VOICES FROM WORKPLACES
Structural Adjustment, Lay-off, and Labor Rights for Women

Feature
Uses of organic chemicals and women workers health

Park, Min-na's life story
Life stories of Unemployed Women Householders

EQUALITY COUNSELING
The two-time increase in the number of counselling cases

NEWS
ACTIVITIES OF KWWAU

This article is based on counselling undertaken by the Equal Rights Counseling Center of the Women Workers Association in Seoul, Inchon, and Masan & Changwon, and Pusan Women's Association between April and June.

During the last three months the total number of counselling cases was 323 (excluding re-counselling, counselling about seeking jobs), which are two times higher, compared to 161 during the first quarter of this year.

In regards to marriage status, unmarried women make up 30.5% and married women constitute 69.5% of the total number of counselling taken by the Equal Rights Counselling Centers, which means that married women represent a great majority. 77.4 % of their workshops do not set up trade unions.

In terms of the size of their companies, 18.6% work in firms with under 4 workers, 40.1% 5-9, 8.3% 10-29, and 33% over 30. Workers working in companies with less than 10 workers make up 33%. According to types in other sectors, 71.3% are involved in the manufacturing sector, 21.8% in the social and personal service sectors, 4.9% in the wholesale, retail, food and accommodation sectors, 1.6% in the finance and security sectors, and 0.3% in the warehouse and telecommunication sectors. In terms of types of occupations, 57.6% are engaged in production, 24.4% in service, 5.4% in sales, 4.7% in professional and skilled jobs, and 0.3% in administration.

Back wages account for 65.9% of the total number of counselling, which form a great majority. This figure has increased by 21.9% compared to 44% in this year's quarter. This shows that delayed payment in small size companies is the most serious issue. In addition, counselling on lay-off comprises 21.8%, discrimination such as unfair personnell assignment and discriminatory lay-offs comprises 5.5%, changes in working conditions such as wage re-scaling system, adaptation of irregular workers, changes in leave systems compruse 5.1%, and sexual harassment in the workplace comprises 1.4%. On occupational health and safety, only one counselling call was made.

Counselling regarding discriminationn represents the smallest percentage of all, but counselling has increased to 5.5% compared to 3.7% in first quarter of this year. Additionally, counselling on sexual abuses in the workplace decreased to 1.4%, relative to 6.8% in a quarter of this year.

The reason for the low rate of counselling regarding discrimination lies in the practice that women-concentrated departments are usually closed and/or they are replaced by temporary workers in the restructuring process, because directly discriminatory lay-offs targeting women workers will generate social protests.

However, this is not considered discriminatory dismissal. Further, a high number of counselling on actual discrimination is included under the category of lay-offs. Although sexual abuse has arisen in the workplace as reported in mass media, women receive a low rate of counselling about these abuse owing to the fear that they might be fired.

Counselling Cases by Type

1. Counselling on back wages is two times higher

   • No retirement pay is given after bankruptcy

     A counselee worked on publishing a community newspaper. Although the company went bankrupt one and half years ago, it still runs. Workers who retired one and half years ago, obtained a victory after suing the company in the office of Labor, but the company has not yet paid the workers. The counselee has not been paid even though she retired 6 month ago. The office is usually occupied by creditors (by the Equal Rights Counseling Center of Masan-Changwon Women Workers Association ).

   • Bills received instead of back wages are dishonored.

     I worked for a factory in Namdong industrial complex in Inchon. After the bankruptcy of the company, we selected workers' representative to make a petition. In the course, the company requested to cancel the petition paying bills for retirement pays, which totaled 20 million WON.

     When the representative cancelled the petition, a labor officer did not strongly hold him back just saying "Canceling our petition is not good idea. You are paid by bill." Two days later, the bills were dishonored. We have to obtain complicated documents to seize the company properties, but the documents related cannot not be issued because we canceled our petition. Further, we are unable to re-make the petition (by the Equal Rights Counseling Center of the Inchon Women Workers Association).

   • The runaway of a company owner after filing bankruptcy

     A factory owner in Soknam-dong, Inchon has delayed paying wages to 28 workers. The owner of the company and his brother ran away. Both of them ran away after filing bankruptcy. Although it is said that they are doing another business, no body knows where they are.

     Workers took turns watching the factory and selected a representative, but she was very tired of the unkind provision in other counselling centers when a worker visited us. They already made a petition in the Office of Labor. They demanded their back wages in a letter of attorney, but they did not know how (by the Equal Rights Counseling Center of Inchon Women Workers Association ).

2. Lay-offs

   • Women, first victim for lay-offs

     Since May 1, 1998, a shipbuilding company ordered 47 women workers (which compose 25% of the total workforce) to leave their posts and wait for further actions. This was done without any negotiation with workers and violated detailed principles for laying off workers. Recently, this company received smaller orders, but it had made 1 billion WON profits over the last 17 years since the 80s, so the order taken by the company was not regarded as just.

     The company had tried to make the workers resign from their jobs, but women workers would not follow. Later the company made a principle that all women workers except the certain number of women (like cooks and secretaries) regulated by laws, must be dismissed.

     Workers who were ordered to leave their post and wait for further actions set up a workers' group which was later developed into a trade union. This company established a policy that all workers ordered to leave their posts and wait for further actions for over 3 months, must be automatically fired (the Equal Rights Counseling Center of the Pusan Women's Association ).
     After the counselling, all of them were reinstated on June 12.

   • Only Married Women, replaced by irregular workers

     I heard a rumor that ten married women out of a total 106 workers are going to be changed into contractual workers. I don't know what to do? (the Equal Rights Counseling Center of the Pusan Women's Association).
     After the counselling was received, women workers' group in the company protested, so the company now is withholding on changes.

   • A company forcing all workers to hand in resignations and selectively accepting only some

     In late 1997, an electronic company in Inchon demanded all workers to submit resignations under the excuse of 'financial difficulties of the company'. The company selected only some workers and then operated its factory the next day. But, the company later demanded the workers who were forced to leave change the reason to 'personal problems'. The workers who did not comply with the company's request could not receive any dole because the company did not confirm that they were unemployed (the Equal Rights Counseling Center of the Inchon Women Workers Association ).

   • A company forcing all workers to hand in resignations under the reason 'personal problem'

     A furniture company asked workers to submit resignations during a morning meeting. Several hours later, the company called groups of workers and forced them to submit resignations. The company forced workers to write resignations not under the reason 'the company 's difficulty' but under the reason 'personal problem' (the Equal Rights Counseling Center of the Inchon Women Workers Association ).
     We provided consultation that it is 'against the workers' personal wills so it should be void'. Workers have raised objections and taken steps for making a petition.

   • Married women and workers whose partners work at the same companies, first targeted for lay-offs

     I worked at an insurance company for 16 years. Last May 6, the company laid off 20-30 married women and workers whose partners worked at the same companies. I submitted a resignation at the company's suggestion. I received one-year pay as resignation pay and severance allowance. I am wondering if I can apply for a dole? (the Equal Rights Counseling Center of the Pusan Women's Association ).

3. Counselling on Discrimination

   • No jobs given to married women and women workers

     I am a union member in a precision company in Changwon. The company has attempted to replace union members who work as clerical workers by temporary workers. Recently, the company has not given any works to married women and women workers who have been working long term. What shall I do? (the Equal Rights Counseling Center of Masan & Changwon Women Workers Association )

   • Suspending only women workers longer

     In a company in which the majority of workers are male in Changwon, a department was suspended. But, male workers were not affected, only the work of women were suspended for another 4 months. The Office of Labor did not accept women workers' petition concerning violation of the Equality Law and the Labour Standard Law. Could you let us know another way? (the Equal Rights Counseling Center of Masan & Changwon Women Workers Association )

Min Na Park(Editorial staff of Seoul Women Workers Association)

Today, some women householders gather together. One woman is a 42 years old mother raising two daughters and a son by herself after her husband's runaway. Another is 39 year old divorced mother, who is raising a son in the fourth grade four. The other is a 51 year old woman who has been raising a son and a daugter by herself after her husband's death.

The current economic turmoil has presented serious barriers to them. But, they have managed to survive so far. Their children encouraged them to do their best and work hard. But the descendence of a sudden monster, the so-called IMF presents even more hardships.

How can they continue surviving while so many people are looking for jobs? Both single mothers and unemployed husbands have come out for jobs. Even housewives staying at home for many years have joined the queue, to take economic responsibilities as breadwinners. But, our economy has shrunk and become distorted. It is difficult to make a living and find jobs. This is not just the story of others. This is happening in our homes. Let's listen to these women householderss who have gone through so many difficulties.

• Story of Baek Mi-kyung with no tears (pseudonym, a 42 year old mother with two daughters and a son)

  I don't have any room in my heart to cry. In 1992 my husband's business went bankrupt. Creditors often chased my family. At that time, my third child became just three years old. But suddenly, my husband disappeared.. I didn't know what to do. I felt blocked by walls.

  I was resentful towards my husband, but I did not cry. At night, my family ran away from my apartment. I thought about going to my parent's home, but I felt that they were unlikely to welcome my penniless family. I didn't want to feel bad, so I rented a room with some money borrowed from a friend. Since that moment, my family has endured hellish battles. Fortunately, I managed to find a job as a bookkeeper , a job that I held before marriage.

  I tried not to let other know that I didn't have a husband. I would have experienced condemnation from this society if people knew, and my self-esteem would not allow that. I told my children that their father went overseas to earn money. My children have grown up nicely and studied hard. They comfort me a lot.

  One day, my sister's friend asked me to run a small shop together. I thought it would be better for my children in terms of economy and time. However, due to IMF, the shop had to be shut down. Now, it is difficult to find a job, even as a domestic helper. I have never allowed my children to starve. What I am the most worried about is their school fees. I shall do what I can. I have applied for public works. I can have managed so far...

• Story of Lee Kang-ja who divorced a playboy husband (pseudonym, a 39 year old mother with two sons)

  Just before my wedding, my husband mentioned he lived with his 9 year old nephew. However, this child turned out to be his real son. I had sensed that before, but I accepted that because I thought it wasn't the child's fault.

  However, my problem is my husband. One day, I received invoices from different banks. He borrowed money to finance his exploits with women. He made use of his job, a revenue office clerk to borrow money from banks. He was very irresponsible, and didn't care about the invoices at all. His sisters and brothers were not concerned either. They just thought his behavior was like his father's, a gangster who also played with women. I felt very frustrated by these people's coldness.

  We couldn't make a live nor pay the debts by his salary only. I was desperate. I started looking for a job, but this was very difficult. I learned how to sew through working at small workshops. I bought a sewing machine and worked at home, fixing clothes and making goods for home fashion. But, I couldn't make even 200,000 WON. My husbands was fired; however, his bad habit continued. We fought a lot. He started to beat me. One day, he broke my ribs. I didn't have any hope left in the marriage.

  I wanted to kill myself. But I couldn't, because my son just entered primary chool. I got divorced. I rented a room for my son me and even my step son. My husband was so irresponsible that he did not even care about his own son.

  I sewed at home, but I could not make a living. I worked at restaurants and did anything else that I could. I nearly re-paid all the debts that my husband borrowed under my name. But, suddenly Korea fell into this terrible IMF. I became unemployed.. I could no longer work at restaurants or sew at home, either. I don't know how to make a living during this time.

• Story of Mihn Kyong-sook shouting in front of her husbands tomb (pseudonym, a 51 year old mother with a son and a daughter)

  I usually blame my husband whenever my family goes to his tomb. Son of bitch, are you happy to die so early? It is not comfortable to raise my nicely-grown children all by myself, you son of bitch (laughing). He liked people and drinking, but he had poor lungs and high blood pressure. We often had to go to the hospital. When he drank with his friend one summer, the blood in his brain was torn. At that time, my oldest child was 6 years old, the other 4 years old, and I was 37 years old. I was just a housewife.

  Sighing. I was so upset. When we finished the 49 day ceremony after his death, I became a street vendor in front of the Bangbae middle school. Just when my business was getting better, the school moved to another area.

  Then, I sold flowers and worked as a promotion seller for cakes and yogurts in the street. I worked as a cleaner in apartment blocks. Since my daughter was so young, I had to take her with me. It was very difficult, both for me and my daughter. I have worked hard, and my children study very well. They never went to private study-guiding centers, but they were class presidents and studied very well. I was pleased. When my daughter was elected as student president in her primary school, I even became the leader of the parents' association of the school (laughing )!

  I also worked in a restaurant. They worked me like a horse. I worked hard, but they fired me because their businesswas not so good after IMF. I thought I could find another job, but nobody wants to hire me. Since I became unemployed two months ago, I have been feeling terrible.

  I have tried to find a job as a domestic helper, but younger mothers are preferred. I feel sad. I am anxious. Time just passes by while I do nothing. That is why I am angry when I think my husband just enjoy himself in the fresh air under the ground. Dying is nothing compared to making a living. I feel like he has no worries in the other world. I can do nothing except sell myself (laughing)!

• They Are Still Smiling.

  They smile a lot. I guess they have tried to give have hopes and inspiration for their children. I feel that. They are struggling to survive and will do so with much courage. However, the problem in society is that few people care about single mothers and grossly inadequate legal measures exist for women householders. This IMF period drives them into despair, driving them from their jobs.

  They share sadness. People ignore and look down on them when others know they are women without husbands. Others hurt them. Men start to play around them. Since they have gone through so much harassment, they never let others know their status. They said that their husbands are the problem if they are with them or not.

  I feel sad. In Korean society, I can empathize with women householders who are in great difficulties in caring for their family and establishing their egos. Let's have hope in ending this troubled IMF period as soon as possible. Let's make efforts to establish legal measures for them. Let's give others our warm hands to share with them. Let's change our society into the direction where women can stand up without having to dependend on their husbands.

Moh Yoon-sook (head of education and publicization of IWWA)

In 1996, 33 workers (25 women and 8 men) working in switch processing lines, have been poisioned by the solvent 5200 and have been disganosed with occupational disease. Malfunctioning ovaria has stopped the menstruation cycles of women workers with such symptoms and malfunctioning marrow has also resulted in pernicious anemia.

Since the chemical was not known to affect reproduction, they were exposed to the chemical, working without any ventilation for a month. Chemicals including organic solvents can affect future generations as well as damage the health of workers.

However, women workers affected by hazardous chemicals usually regard their symptoms as personal health problems. Moreover, women workers who resigned early have difficulty relating their symptoms with occupational diseases because they normally become sick after they stop working.

In spite of increasing women's participation in the manufacturing sector, their health conditions and industrial hazards in the workplace have not been examined. KWWAU and its three regional associations (in Inchon, Kwangju and Masan & Changwon), and the Labor & Health Research Center conducted surveys on situations in which using organic solvents were used, targeting 606 women workers working at 27 workshops in the electronic, electricity and chemical industries. The research was done between November 1997 and February 1998. The research results are as follows:

Research Outcomes

1. Surveying individual union members

   In terms of organic chemical uses and ventilations, 75.6% replied that chemicals are used partially or in all processes. However, only 28.2% answered that their workplaces have no type of ventilations facilities at all.

   30.6% said that factories have ventilation without additional ventilations for special processes. 11.1% complained that ventilation facilities do not work properly or work at all. 30.1% replied that their companies do not open windows all day on rainy days and/or winter. This shows that working conditions in regard with ventilation are are extremely unhealthy.

   In terms of specialized medical check-ups, 11 workers (27.5%) received yearly medical checks and 84 (20.8%) received medical check-ups every 6 months. So, a majority are found to receive no proper medical check-up.

   Even though only 37% said that they directly treat organic chemicals, they were found to have such common symptoms related to nerve break-down due to exposure exposures, such as as difficulty in concentration(62%) a symptom of chronic malfunction of poisoned nerve system, emotional instability (60.8%), and insomnia (35.4%). Also, they experience other nerve-related symptoms such as weariness (79.7%), anxiety (74.8%) without any reasons, and becoming easily tired (60.4%).

   Amongst married women who treat organic chemicals, 7.69% answered their sexual health is deteriorating and 50.77% replied that there is no change in their relationship, compared to before.

   Amongst the group who handles organic chemicals, 96 women workers (41.38%) experience changes in cycles and the amount of their menstruation. Also, those who have such changes account for 31.03% of the total participants. 15.52% have shortened menstruation cycles while 51.7% said their cycles have become longer. 12.93% answered that their cycles have become irregular since they started to treat organic chemicals, and 4.74% have much more irregular menstruations than before.

   Table 1. Changes in cycles and amounts of manstruation
   

   Changes in cycles and amounts of manstruations	No. of workers (%)
   No changes	84 (36.21)
   Changes	96 (41.38)
   No answer	52 (22.41)
   Total	232 (100.00)

   Since working at that workplaces, 58.9% have aching necks, arms and hands, 58.4% deteriorating eye sights, 45.5% headaches, 46.9% backaches, and 34.5% digestion problems. Also, 32.7% have swollen and/or aching legs, and 32.7% feel dizzy. 31.7% have anemia, 26.7% irregular manstruation, 17.3% insomnia, 13.2% nerve breaking-down, 8.6% piles, 8.4% low blood pressure, 13.0% irregular heart-beating, and 1.5% have difficulties in breathing.

2. Surveying trade unions

   Most participants in this survey work in large-scale companies: women working at firm with 50 employees consisted of 8.3%, between 50 and 300 16.6%, and over 300, 74.7%. The average number of workers are 498.4 (women workers constitute 47.4% in their workplaces). Methyl alcohol, toluene, and acetone are labelled as organic chemicals mostly used in their workplaces. Workers treat chemicals in 6 lines at most. Only one trade union (8.3%) has a department specializing in women workers' health and welfare, which means that structure for women workers' health and welfare are severely lacking.

   Table 2. Establishment of departments specializing in women workers' health and welfare in trade unions
   

   	No. of companies
   No	11 (91.7)
   Yes	1 (8.3)
   Total	12 (100.0)

   Only two trade unions (16.7%) have special occupational health and safety programs such as women's educationsal programs targeting women.

   Table 3. special occupational health and safety programs targeting for women
   

   	No. of companies
   No	10 (83.3)
   Yes	2 (16.7)
   Total	12 (100.0)

   Companies do not usually discuss introducing new chemicals with trade unions. Only two companies (16.7%) discuss occupational health issues with their unions.

   Table 4. Discussion between management and unions about new chemicals
   

   	Table 4. Discussion between management and unions about new chemicals
   No	10 (83.3)
   Yes	2 (16.7)
   Total	12 (100.0)

   Necessity for Long-term policies The research results indicate a close relationship between organic chemical use and women's health. Married women exposed to these chemicals have experienced several failures while pregnant. Additionally, changes in the amount and menstruation cycles were found amongst all participants who were exposed to these chemicals.

   However, it is very difficult to connect their health problems which occur very late, with occupational diseases, since women workers usually retire from their jobs early. Workers have to live in pain once they have occupational diseases. In particular, women's pain is particularly severe during maternity. So, prevention should be taken immediately .

   Practical legal measures for women workers are needed. No restrictions are set for women workers, although they are exposed to various hazardous chemicals affecting their maternity. Long-term preventative measures and policies based on specialized research on chemicals used in workplaces should be made.

Lee, Heh-soon (head of women's department of KCTU)

1. Structural adjustment for lay-offs

   Women workers of the KFSB were shouting their demands in the first rally for women's employment security and women's umemployment prevention

   Structural adjustment is now operating in full-swing in the workplace.. At Hyundai Motors the conflict between management and labor is one regarding laying-off workers or not. However, basic principles such as the attempt to avoid lay-offs and engage in sincere negotiations with trade unions are being distorted,. Thus, we doubt that the current restructuring plans will lead to reform.

   Until late July, 873 cases involving 1,610 workers were judged as being unfairly dismissed, amongst those reported to the labor committee or those sued in local labor offices. The figures are 4.5 times higher than those during the same period last year.

   If unfair labour practices such as failure to pay back wages are included, the figures total 55,216 cases which are two times higher than those last year (HanKyoReh Daily, 19 August, 1998). Under the pretext of structural adjustment companies are engaging in lay-offs and unfair labor practices. In this current situation, democracy in the workplace is being seriously attacked.

   'PARADISE,' a paradise of lay-offs

   Let's look at the case of the Paradise Beach Hotel to examine how lay-offs have affected workers. The Hotel laid off 320 workers (about 60%) out of the total workforce of 520 between February and March this year. Management simply waved off dismissed workers and then re-hired the same dismissed women householders.

   Protests by the Pusan Women's Association and active actions taken by the workers managed to stop the illegal dismissals, but their contracts will expire in February 1999. Conflicts over the dismissal of 100 workers still remains unsettled, so they are continuing their protests by setting up the dismissed workers' re-employment struggle committee.

2. Cutting women's jobs by shutting down female-dominated departments!

   By carefully looking at individual workplaces, we can see that women's jobs have been reduced by company restructuring plans that shut down female-dominated departments.

   Shutting down a female-dominated department at the Korean Federation of Small Businesses (KFSB)!

   The first incident occurred at the Korean Federation of Small Businesses (KFSB) whose trade unions are affiliated with KCTU. Last June 25, its detailed restructuring plan targeted women workers who composed of 20% amongst 80 workers (including 23 contractual workers whose contracts were expired).

   They closed the Dept. of General Affairs where many women workers are concentrated. This means that 91.8% of women out of the whole workforce of 61 women were targeted for lay-offs. Moreover, the company planned to re-employ some of them as contractual workers.

   The KFSB divides workers by tasks: general, specialised, clerical assistant, and technical. 99% women workers are ranked in the lowest division. The clerical assistant division, for example, is made up of 33 women and one man. Clerical assistants do work for the general division as well as manual and miscellaneous things.

   The company claimed that 'women are typists just serving coffees, and answering telephones.' Just because they are women, they have to work the lowest level jobs under harsh and discriminatory working conditions. Now they are also being unfairly dismissed.

   `The trade union protested the one-sided restructuring. They argued that no negotiation took place with the union nor did management attempt to avoid dismissals. Thus, they went on strike. On last 29 July, after a 40 day struggle, an agreement was eventually reached.

   In the process, the union agreed to close the clerical assistant division and all the women workers were retired. Currently, some of them are protesting against their status of being put on the waiting list.

   Korea Telecom cutting public services

   Korea Telecom has already started to charge customer for its free-call services, in spite of strong resistances from its trade union and NGOs. The trade union carried out struggles against the policy.

   Those who usually use the services are handicapped, soldiers, students studying away from home, and unemployed householders. In addition, it is not right to change its policy due to increasingg profitability, especially when many people have been negatively affected by a flood this past summer and it is a public corporatation. Since it is difficult to argue that restructuring has only affected women, I think the union's approach is more appropriate to handle the issue.

   In the jobs involved, an overwhelming majority of workers were married women workers (231 married women work amongst 239 workers). Initially, the company promised that they would reallocate tasks after a 6 week training period, but after negotiations with the union, the training duration was shortened to 4 weeks.

   However, since the education sites are in Kimhae and Najoo which is quite far from Seoul (and they have to stay in dormitories for the training) and all of their reallocated jobs cannot be located in Seoul, it is expected that all of these married women will not continue to work.

   Hence, the trade union should raise the issue of women's unstable employment, as a consequence of the wrong decision made by the company in their demands for reviving the free-call services.

   'Hyundai Auto' workers raged at the policy for subcontracting its canteens

   Last 24 August, the management and trade union agreed to with the government's suggestions that laying off the total number of 170 women workers working at its canteens should be minimized. For the last 10 years the trade union has stopped the company's attempts to subcontract the operation of its canteens.

   The working conditions of subcontracted canteens are very harsh. Their basic wages comprise only 50% of those of workers who are employed in canteens of the company. Laying off women workers working at the canteens means that the company will most likely subcontract canteen work. Further, the company will use this as an excuse for future lay-offs in industrial relations.

   These 170 women workers stood united until they obtained the victory. The trade union also kept to its basic principle that their employment should be maintained. In the finalized agreements the trade union shall run canteens for the following 5 years; the company shall provide compensation pay equivalent to 9 month-wages, continue paying their wages until the ownership is transferred; and the company shall put its efforts to employ workers and their spouses, who were already were retired by force.

3. Turning point between rises and falls of women workers' basic rights

   Restructuring adjustment in Korea has just started. By August the government's plan to finalize public restructuring and second financial sector restructuring will take place. Then, the government will carry out a series of plans in relation to restructuring adjustment: to decide conditionally approved banks and restructure five chaebols; to improve management styles in security companies; and to enact and amend laws and acts related to restructuring in the National Assembly.

   In this process, basic workers' rights and our livelihood are projected to be illegally threatened. Our family systems will be torn. Our future will be lost, if we cannot firmly stop illegal attempts by the capitalists and structural changes toward democracy in our society cannot be achieved. In addition, how strongly women workers' rights at this point can be defended will be a determinant of status of women workers in the future.

   We live in an era in which labor rights, a basic human right are largelybeing intimidated. We also live in a world in which endless competition and mass production is intensifying and the poor classes are expanding. How can we change the values and aims of this era? Can positive points of feminity actively contribute to changing his current economic turmoil?