혁명은 언제나 시기상조

I write to inform you the recent concerns raised by Kiryung Electronic Co., Ltd, a Korean company that produces parts of satellite radios for SIRIUS. The company operated using illegally-hired dispatched workers. These workers, who suffered under a severe working condition, formed a union and accused the company to the Korean Ministry of Labour, after finding out that their employment relationship was illegal. The company paid a fine of 5,000,000 Won and fired the trade unionists. Kiryung Electronics claims that it has done its responsibility since it has paid the fine. Also, Korean legal system had too many loopholes to regulate Kiryung. However, such conduct of Kiryung Electronics was chosen as the case requiring urgent meditation by ILO, the International Labour Organisation. On Behalf of the workers unfairly fired from Kiryung Electronics, I decided to reveal the truth by sending this e-mail to you.

The main reason why I write this e-mail to you is to identify whether Kiryung Electronics’ assertion is true or not. Kiryung Electronics have stated that it was inevitable to fire the dispatched workers in order to maintain their business relationship with SIRIUS. According to Kiryung Electronics, a term from the contract specifies that they have to move their production facilities to China.

Having said so, Kiryung Electronics alleged that, because SIRIUS required such terms and conditions as written in the contract, there was no other choice but to dismiss the workers in Korea in order to protect their relationship with SIRIUS. Thus they have not accepted worker’s claims concerning the unfair redundancy and repeatedly said that the dismissal was SIRIUS’s demand based on the contract. I cannot believe Kiryung Electronics’ statements since it seems impossible that the agreed terms of contract between Kiryung and SIRIUS actually require such an unjust discharge of the workers. What I would like to know is if there is really a term indicating that Kiryung Electronics should relocate their factory to China.

Kiryung Electronics always mentions about the terms of contract that is said to be required by SIRIUS, to support their employment policy. The stories from the workers are more horrifying than what anyone could possibly imagine. They were all paid wages only 10 won higher than the legal minimum wage, but their employers still said that the minimum wage rate was too high for the laborers. One worker could not even go back home earlier when her daughter had a sudden road-accident since she feared being fired- She had to complete all her works as usual. Another worker was expelled from the firm for passing out due to a severe illness. The company even fired workers regularly through text messages without any legitimate reasons, but just to escape from a law stating that a company must hire the worker by itself when a worker serves for it over a certain period of time. I do not think that any company with conscience would sign a contract holding such brutal terms and conditions.

The workers who lost their jobs have been protesting against Kiryung Electronics’ employment policy for more than 3 years. The dismissed workers had even done a hunger strike for more than a couple of months last summer. One of the strikers had starved for 94 days, with her life at risk, but the company still did not negotiate. Nothing has been changed till now. Kiryung Electronics still maintains their initial stance that the terms of the contract demand to close the Korean factory and to dismiss the workers for moving out to China.

I hope you could understand such a problematic situation and are able to help the workers by revealing the truth about the contract through genuine interviews with representatives of the laborers.

Sincerely yours

OOO