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8 April, 2001The Federation of Korean Metalworkers' Trade Unions reports on the health and safety situation in the shipbuilding industry and identifies most important priorities.
KOREA, Rep: During the recently held meeting of the IMF Shipbuilding Working Group, in Mok-po, the IMF-affiliated Federation of Korean Metalworkers' Trade Unions reported that work in the shipbuilding industry is second only to construction as the most dangerous occupation in South Korea.
According to the Korean Ministry of Labour, in 1999, 957 workers were injured in accidents in the shipbuilding and repair industry and 26 died. In the same year, overall figures for industrial accidents in South Korea amounted to 55,405, with 2,291 deaths.
Since the financial crisis in 1997, the union said that health and safety provisions in the shipbuilding and repair industry have deteriorated, with the number of accidents and fatalities in the last two years on the increase. Many injured workers are being dismissed, while those suffering back injuries or stress are not classed as suffering industrial injuries and, as a result, they do not qualify for sickness benefits. Fulltime trade union officials are not allowed to get involved in workplace health and safety issues.
The FKMTU said that following their participation in the IMF Seminar on Occupational Health and Safety in March 2000, they had asked for assistance in helping to learn from Western systems of occupational health and safety, however nothing has been done since then, and Korean employers ignore their legal obligations with regard to occupational health and safety.
For the union, the most important priorities are for the right of national trade union organisations to be involved in occupational health and safety activities at the national level, that the government should strengthen OH&S legislation, with increased penalties for employers who fail to meet their obligations, and working time had to be reduced, without loss of pay.
According to the Korean Ministry of Labour, in 1999, 957 workers were injured in accidents in the shipbuilding and repair industry and 26 died. In the same year, overall figures for industrial accidents in South Korea amounted to 55,405, with 2,291 deaths.
Since the financial crisis in 1997, the union said that health and safety provisions in the shipbuilding and repair industry have deteriorated, with the number of accidents and fatalities in the last two years on the increase. Many injured workers are being dismissed, while those suffering back injuries or stress are not classed as suffering industrial injuries and, as a result, they do not qualify for sickness benefits. Fulltime trade union officials are not allowed to get involved in workplace health and safety issues.
The FKMTU said that following their participation in the IMF Seminar on Occupational Health and Safety in March 2000, they had asked for assistance in helping to learn from Western systems of occupational health and safety, however nothing has been done since then, and Korean employers ignore their legal obligations with regard to occupational health and safety.
For the union, the most important priorities are for the right of national trade union organisations to be involved in occupational health and safety activities at the national level, that the government should strengthen OH&S legislation, with increased penalties for employers who fail to meet their obligations, and working time had to be reduced, without loss of pay.