Shipyard workers are not allowed to testify about work-related accidents

The legislature only appoints executives for review by the National Assembly

By Park Jae-hyuk

Shipyard temporary workers are protesting against lawmakers’ decision to reject workers’ statements about workplace accidents during an Oct. 15 audit of the Economic, Social and Labor Council by the National Assembly.

While calling on MPs on the Environment and Labor Committee to explain their refusal, workers criticized the National Assembly for silencing their voices despite the ongoing deaths of their colleagues. Most of the 24 workers who died in accidents at local shipyards this year were contract workers.

Last month, Rep. Jung Hye-kyung of the small progressive Jinbo Party tried to call Hanwha Ocean CEO Kim Hee-cheul as a witness to testify about frequent accidents at the company’s shipyard on Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province to testify.

She also asked that one of the subcontractors be given the opportunity to speak about the shipyard’s work environment following her inspection of the facility, where four workers have been killed this year alone.

However, the participation of a temporary worker was rejected for unknown reasons after negotiations between the vice chairmen of the Standing Committee – Rep. Kim Ju-young of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea and Rep. Kim Hyung-dong of the ruling People Power Party.

In addition, the standing committee decided to call in Hanwha Ocean President Jung In-sub in place of Kim or former CEO Kwon Hyek-woong, even though Jung resigned last December as head of Geoje Shipyard and now heads the shipbuilder’s corporate communications department directs. Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje Shipyard is currently led by Vice President Lee Gil-seob.

The standing committee said its members will question Jung about the safety measures Hanwha has implemented since the group acquired Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) last year. Jung is reportedly a key figure in Hanwha’s takeover bid for DSME.

Along with Jung, Lee Sang-kyun, CEO of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, was subpoenaed to testify about the work environment at his shipyard in Ulsan.

“We welcome the National Assembly’s decision to summon the presidents of the two largest shipyards,” a group of subcontractors from the Korea Metalworkers’ Union (KMWU) said in a statement.

“However, we protest vigorously against the denial of the presence of a temporary worker who can testify about the reality of the shipyards.”

The union claimed that the workers’ absence would make it impossible for lawmakers to verify in the audit whether the shipyard managers were telling the truth.

According to the Law on Testimonies and Assessments Before the National Assembly, a standing committee may add witnesses up to seven days before each examination session. However, a KMWU official said on Tuesday that the Environment and Labor Committee did not allow the presence of a temporary worker at the shipyard.