An umbrella labor union warned Monday it would stage a walkout later this month against government plans to allow companies greater freedom to fire workers.
The government has been pushing to give corporate management more leeway in laying off workers to help revive the sluggish economy.
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions, however, said the move would worsen labor conditions, allowing companies to not only fire workers but also cut salaries with ease.
The union said it will go on a strike on April 24, noting more than 84 percent of its voters agreed to it.
Labor Minister Lee Ki-kwon categorized the planned strike as illegal, warning the government would react sternly.
FKTU, one of South Korea’s two largest labor unions with more than 650,000 members, has been negotiating with the government, representing South Korean workers. (Yonhap)
