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Korea, Republic Of

Korea health workers’ union anti-privatisation campaign

03 April 2014

On 26 March PSI affiliate Korea Health and Medical Workers’ Union (KHMU) held its second central bargaining meeting and demanded employers to join the national campaign against the privatization of the healthcare system. During the negotiations which included representatives of both the employers and the union, KHMU presented its demands.

Trade in Services Agreement (TISA)

02 April 2014

PSI is currently undertaking further research on the effects of the TISA on our sectors. PSI will be working with civil society and other allies to oppose the harmful effects of the TISA.

Social protection floors

30 March 2014

Today, as much as 80 per cent of the global population does not have access to social protection and lives in social insecurity, facing complete loss of income when a personal or national economic crisis strikes. Social Protection was pushed to the fore of the international agenda after the obvious damage due to the financial and economic crises, and a 2012 ILO Recommendation operationalizes Social Protection Floors as two-pronged, providing universal access to essential health care and basic income security in the case of maternity, for children and when people are sick, unemployed, disabled, and old. Read more>>>

Solidarity with the Korean People’s Strike

Korea People's strike

On 25 February 2014, the one year anniversary of President Park Geun-hye's administration, the Korean labour movement and other social groups held a "People's Strike" protesting the deterioration of democracy in South Korea.

International trade union mission in South Korea: High-level mission statement

20 Jan 2014

On 17-20 January 2014, a high-level international delegation, including TUAC, ITUC, PSI and ITF, took part in a four-day mission to look into the current situation of human and trade union rights in Korea. The mission confirmed what was feared, that under the current administration the government was engaging in a wave of intense repression against labour and civil society of the kind not seen in recent years and which threatens to hollow-out the country’s democracy.

International trade union mission condemns continuing labour rights violations in South Korea

21 January 2014
Many people participating in a rally in front of Seoul station

PSI participated in an international trade union mission in South Korea on 17-20 January to investigate continued fundamental labour rights violations against trade unions including PSI affiliates. The mission comes in the midst of increasing repression against Korean trade unions in response to a 23-day long rail strike. Participants in the mission include John Evans, General Secretary of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD, PSI Deputy General Secretary David Boys and other representatives from ITUC, PSI and ITF.

Nurses' Forum

20 January 2014

PSI staff members joined by other Global Union staff members in Geneva demonstrate in front of the Korean mission - 17 January 2014.

Photos: Demonstration in Geneva in front of the Korean mission

20 January 2014

PSI staff members joined by other Global Union staff members in Geneva demonstrate in front of the Korean mission - 17 January 2014.

As Korean workers fight for their rights, Swiss do business with Korean President

17 January 2014

South Korean President Park Geun-hye is arriving for a state visit to Switzerland this weekend. But while she enjoys Swiss hospitality, Korean workers will be striking for their rights in Seoul.

Education support and cultural workers

15 January 2014

Public Services International affiliates represent hundreds of thousands of educational support workers throughout the world, many of who work without job security, fair compensation and benefits, or recognition that their services are vital to ensuring high quality public education for all citizens. The jobs of support workers are on the frontlines of the privatization and casualization struggle within the education sector, and many of these workers face challenges in pursuing their basic freedom to form a union and collectively bargain their terms and conditions of service. More information