Ministries to curtail civil servants’ political clout
Published: 12 Oct. 2009, 00:37
By Seo Ji-eun
The government said it is preparing to impose tougher restrictions on civil servants who oppose state policies.
The move comes in the wake of a decision by three civil servants’ labor unions to join the nation’s biggest umbrella union. Key officials from the public administration, labor and justice ministries last Friday agreed on the series of measures aimed at public servants challenging government policies and publicly supporting specific political parties.
Late last month, three different labor unions made up entirely of civil servants merged and went under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. As a result, 110,000 public servants are now members of a trade union body known for frequently taking a hard-line left-wing stance.
“Related government ministries have shared their views on the recent move by the civil servant labor unions and agreed to come up with countermeasures,” said Koo Bohn-choong, a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Public Administration and Security. “We will take steps to revise the related law as soon as we are prepared.”
The ministries agreed to make a list of political activities considered anathema for civil servants. The current law says, “Public servants are banned from forming or becoming members of a specific political party, and from advocating or opposing a specific political party or political candidate.” Violators are subject to a one-year prison term or a fine of up to 3 million won ($2,577).
But the ministries want to add the following phrase: “Civil servants are prohibited from forming groups and planning, leading and hosting events that oppose or interrupt government policies.”
The ministries have also decided to review the stipulations of the UN International Labour Organization standards and cases in other countries where civil servants’ labor unions have joined umbrella unions.
The government said it will then try to ban civil servants’ labor unions from joining either of the nation’s two umbrella unions - the aforementioned KCTU or the Federation of Korean Trade Unions.
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
The government said it is preparing to impose tougher restrictions on civil servants who oppose state policies.
The move comes in the wake of a decision by three civil servants’ labor unions to join the nation’s biggest umbrella union. Key officials from the public administration, labor and justice ministries last Friday agreed on the series of measures aimed at public servants challenging government policies and publicly supporting specific political parties.
Late last month, three different labor unions made up entirely of civil servants merged and went under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. As a result, 110,000 public servants are now members of a trade union body known for frequently taking a hard-line left-wing stance.
“Related government ministries have shared their views on the recent move by the civil servant labor unions and agreed to come up with countermeasures,” said Koo Bohn-choong, a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Public Administration and Security. “We will take steps to revise the related law as soon as we are prepared.”
The ministries agreed to make a list of political activities considered anathema for civil servants. The current law says, “Public servants are banned from forming or becoming members of a specific political party, and from advocating or opposing a specific political party or political candidate.” Violators are subject to a one-year prison term or a fine of up to 3 million won ($2,577).
But the ministries want to add the following phrase: “Civil servants are prohibited from forming groups and planning, leading and hosting events that oppose or interrupt government policies.”
The ministries have also decided to review the stipulations of the UN International Labour Organization standards and cases in other countries where civil servants’ labor unions have joined umbrella unions.
The government said it will then try to ban civil servants’ labor unions from joining either of the nation’s two umbrella unions - the aforementioned KCTU or the Federation of Korean Trade Unions.
By Seo Ji-eun [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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