TO: Honorable Roh Moo Hyun
<br>President of the Republic of Korea
<br>Blue House, Seoul, South Korea
<br>president@cwd.go.kr
<br>
<br>CC: Minister Lee Sang-Soo
<br>The Ministry of Labour
<br>m_molab@molab.go.kr
<br>
<br> Mr. H. Kim
<br> E.Land World Limited, 19-8 Chanjeon-dong, Mapo-gu
<br> Seoul 127-751 Korea
<br> hkim@eland.co.kr
<br>
<br>
<br>From: Asian TNCs Monitoring Network Date: 19 July 2007
<br>
<br>RE: Violent Suppression on Eland Workers
<br>
<br>Dear President Roh
<br>ATNC Monitoring Network is a labour solidarity network that consists of 25 labour and human right organisations and trade unions in 12 Asian countries. We are writing to express our concerns about the current suppression against Eland workers in Korea.
<br>We are concerned by the numerous reports that the Korean government will soon deploy riot police to arrest workers who have been occupying two Eland retail outlets in protest to precarious and insecure working conditions and lay-offs. We strongly urge the Korean government not to take any violent measure against Eland union and workers and do its best to mediate dialogue between the union and employer.
<br>.
<br>It is well known that Eland has been expanding fast for the last 4 years, buying up a number of retailers by spending tens of millions of dollars. It is also very well know that, behind this story of successful expansion, there has been a strong drive for precarious forms of employment by the employer. The richer the company is becoming, the more precarious employment workers have to tolerate. This is an epitome of socially irresponsible and blind management that cares nothing but profit. We believe the impact of the labour practice of Eland, 5th largest in the retail sector, on workers in Korea can be dismal since the Korean retail industry is already hotbed of precarious working condition, indirect and informal employment.
<br>The government should bear this dismal impact in mind in mediating this dispute. This is not only a struggle of Eland workers, but also symbolising the despair of irregular workers in Korea, on which the government repeatedly promised to put priority. If the pledge made by the government was not a mere rhetoric, the government should first investigate the alleged illegal labour practices in Eland and try to revolve the dispute in favour of the workers. We are urging Eland employer to reinstate all laid-off workers first and withdraw all the charges against workers in strike. It is not fair to ask workers to sit on negotiation table while the employer is still strangling the workers. Indeed, the employer should refrain from utilising precarious employment.
<br>
<br>We are expecting that the government of Korea and the employer will do its best to meet the desperate demands of the workers and stop cracking down the unionists. If such anti-union actions continue, it will be unavoidable for the government and employer to face strong criticism from the international community of trade unions and human rights organisations. We will be closely monitoring the situation until this matter is resolved and will not hesitate to mobilise actions against further violation of labour rights. The possible action against Eland will include boycott to Eland products, not only in Korea, but also in the US. We will also question Eland’s licensing agreement with universities and other institutions through ethical trading initiatives and students and consumer organisations. Finally, partners of ATNC network will have close eyes on the labour practices of Eland’s subsidiaries in Sri Lanka, China, and Vietnam.
<br>
<br>
<br>Sincerely
<br>
<br>Dae-oup Chang
<br>Campaign Coordinator
<br>Asian TNCs Monitoring Network
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