Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) on the 5th held a rally in downtown Seoul and called for the repeal of the "mega special zone special act (mega special zone act)," which is being pushed to create a semiconductor cluster in the southwest region.
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) in the afternoon held a "second-half struggle declaration rally" in front of the Seoul Regional Office of Employment and Labor in Jung-gu, Seoul. The organizer estimated the turnout at 3,000.
Chairperson Yang Kyung-soo said, "While corporations are reaping massive operating profits and additional tax revenue is said to have surpassed 100 trillion won, government policy guarantees corporate profits and moves to shrink workers' rights," criticizing that the benefits from the mega special zone act are skewed toward corporations.
Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) also, through a resolution, noted, "The government drafted next year's budget at 821 trillion won, up 12.8% from this year, and raised industry support budgets such as the three mega projects by 29.7%, while spending on health, welfare, and employment was limited to a 9.3% increase," and called for strengthening the public nature of the budget.
The mega special zone act is a bill the Democratic Party of Korea prepared to back the three mega projects, including fostering the semiconductor industry in the southwest region. The bill contains regulatory exceptions, financial and tax benefits, and support measures for living conditions to attract talent.
However, the Democratic Party is continuing talks with labor over the so-called "white-collar exemption" (exclusion from the 52-hour workweek rule).