The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) announced its presidential demands on May 1, Labor Day, including the introduction of a four-day workweek and a reduction in working hours.
Chairperson Yang Kyung-soo held a press conference in front of Sungnyemun in Jung-gu, Seoul, and revealed KCTU's presidential demands directed at the presidential candidates.
KCTU presented 16 tasks in three main areas: ▲ guaranteeing labor rights ▲ strengthening social publicness ▲ and social reform.
To guarantee labor rights, KCTU demanded the full application of the Labor Standards Act to workers in businesses with fewer than 5 employees, short-time workers, and special employment and platform workers. It also urged the re-promotion of the "Yellow Envelope Law" (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act), which limits corporations' claims for damages against striking workers and strengthens the responsibility of primary contractors for subcontracted workers. The demands also included the introduction of a four-day workweek, reduced working hours, a living wage, and the guarantee of fair wages.
To strengthen social publicness, KCTU demanded the restoration of tax cuts implemented under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, progressive universal taxation, enhanced social insurance coverage, and expanded state responsibilities.
In the area of social reform, KCTU called for the enactment of a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, the realization of gender-equal democracy, the reform of the chaebol and export-driven economic structure, and economic democratization.
Chairperson Yang noted, "I believe this presidential election should lead to the elimination of insurrection forces and social reform," adding, "The removal of Yoon Suk-yeol (former president) should result in the ousting of an undemocratic ruler, along with the abolition and normalization of anti-labor policies."
He also asserted, "I demand a constitutional amendment for a fundamental transition in our society," and stated, "For the next year, citizens should directly participate to deliberate on the direction our society should take and carry out a constitutional vote in next year's local elections."
At the press conference, Kim Tae-hoon, the head of the Incheon branch of the Metal Workers' Union, urged the amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act, and related parties directly participated to express their demands to the presidential candidates.