S. Korean firms see labor-management relationship deteriorating

SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- A majority of South Korean companies expect their
labor-management relationships to deteriorate this year as a result of
controversial government-implemented labor laws, a private survey showed
Thursday.

The Federation of Korean Industries, the nation's largest business lobby, said in
a statement that 72.6 percent of 201 major firms surveyed predicted possible
labor unrest because of the laws, which allow multiple unions for each workplace
and ban companies from paying wages to full-time union members.
In the survey, the companies said labor tensions will probably heighten this year
because a provision in one of the laws requires companies to pay wages to a
limited number of full-time union members when they participate in union
activities such as collective bargaining and addressing grievances.
"Many respondents expect the provision to virtually nullify the laws that ban
companies from paying wages to full-time union employees," said an official at
the federation.
They also expect to clash with labor unions in deciding the number of full-time
union representatives eligible under the provision, the official said.
The survey showed 52.6 percent of the respondents thought the government of
President Lee Myung-bak had not done enough to reform labor laws last year.
(END)

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