By Park Chung-a
Staff Reporter
Workers at hospitals, railways and airports should maintain core services even during strikes from next year.
The Ministry of Labor announced Tuesday that workers at the industries linked to public good can legally go on strike from next year without arbitration from the government but they must maintain essential services in emergency rooms or in handling flights.
When unionists in these industries go on strike, up to 50 percent of striking workers can be replaced through outsourcing. The decision was made following an agreement of government, management and unions to scrap forcible arbitration to meet international standards last September.
Up to now, the government has been able to intervene in strikes of those sectors, banning strikes for 15 days. But such arbitration has drawn criticism from international labor organizations as it restricts the union's rights to strike.
Currently, industries that are categorized as related to public good include railways, water supply, electricity, gas supply, oil supply, hospitals, telecommunication, postal services and the Bank of Korea. From next year, air transportation and blood supply will also be included.
But the plan could not fully satisfy both labor and management.
Lee Eun-ho, a spokesman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, urged the government to further reduce the scope of the sectors that must provide minimum service during strikes.
He claimed railways, oil supply, air transportation and postal services do not threaten people's health, safety or life.
The Korea Employers Federation (KEF) called upon the government to widen the scope of the sectors.