Foreign firms in S. Korea oppose multiple union rule

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- Government plans to allow multiple unions in the
workplace and ban the payment of wages to full-time union members have drawn a
mixed reaction from foreign firms in South Korea, a poll showed Wednesday.
In a survey of 300 foreign-invested firms conducted by the Korea Chamber and
Commerce Industry, 71.3 percent of companies surveyed opposed the multiple labor
union system, with 72.4 percent also opposed to giving wages to workers who only
represent the union.
The South Korean government is pushing to put a system that would allow the
establishment of multiple unions and to impose a ban on paying wages to full-time
union members. The changes are expected to take place next year.
The move, however, has become controversial with both labor and management.
Organized labor and employers agree on the necessity of delaying bringing the
systems into effect for several years, while they have failed to bridge the gap
over renumeration of full-time union members.
Unions are opposed to prohibition of the company giving wages to full-time union
members.
About 80 percent of respondents said that any negotiation channel with the labor
unions should be unified, if the multiple labor union system takes effect, the
chamber said.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
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