54 crane operators illegally suspended work: Investigation

The government believes they have slowed or stopped work in order to extract additional concession from clients, and the action against them is part of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s campaign against illegal labor activity.

A team from the Land Ministry, Employment Ministry, Seoul city government and the police inspecting a construction site in Dongdaemun in March. The government has been cracking down on illegal suspension of work by crane operators. [YONHAP]

Of 54 crane operators found to have illegally suspended work, 21 could have their licenses suspended.

The government believes they have slowed or stopped work in order to extract additional concession from clients, and the action against them is part of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s campaign against illegal labor activity.

Investigations are being conducted on 33 other crane operators.

Those whose licenses could be suspended include operators that refused to continue to work without a specific reason or those that stooped work until excessive demands were met.

If found have to have stopped work without good reason, the government plans to suspend the licenses for three months. If a second offense is committed, that will be extended to a total of six months. On the third offense, license suspension will be extended to a year.

An investigation into the matter was led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which announced the results Sunday.

The investigation was conducted between March 15 and April 6 with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the police and local governments.

Of 693 construction projects, the government was able to finish a special inspection of 547.

“Due to the latest special inspection, the mood at the construction projects is becoming positive,” said Won Hee-ryong, minister of land, infrastructure and transport. “We plan to quickly proceed with the penalty process to reduce the damages on businesses and hardworking workers caused by illegal activities.”

During a Cabinet meeting in February, Yoon said that the government will no longer allow the illegal activities to go unnoticed, especially those committed by large union groups, such as the militant Korea Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU).

“We can’t call it a country if violence and illegal acts are neglected,” Yoon said at the cabinet meeting in February.

“Workers are losing jobs, construction is defective and the opening of an elementary school and new apartments have been delayed,” Yoon said, noting the damages caused by unions threatening to delay projects if their demands are not met, including under-the-table payments and the hiring of union workers.

“The damages are passed on to the people,” Yoon said.

The police have raided the offices of KCTU and those associated with the union groups for illegal activities, including strong-arming companies to hire union workers and illegal political contributions.

Since taking office, the Yoon administration has imposed strict regulations against illegal labor activities

When union truckers went on strike last year, the government ordered the truckers to return to work or face a penalty, which included up to three years in jail or a 30 million won fine.

Without public support and because of the impact that the strike had on the economy, the truckers gave in in just 16 days.

A similar situation happened with DSME subcontractors.

The union workers were forced to reach an agreement after the government warned them about illegal actions.

The government also requested that the labor unions submit spending records on the funding they receive from the central and local governments. However, most union representatives have yet to turn in their books with full details.

The KCTU continues to argue that the Yoon government is oppressing the union workers, liking it to a dictatorship under a military government.

KCTU argued that between Jan. 18 and March 3, the investigation authority raided the offices of construction unions 12 times while summoning 630 people. Of those, 12 have been arrested.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]