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UNI asks Korean President Roh Moo-hyun to intervene to secure the release of arrested E.Land shop workers

In a letter to the Korean President Roh Moo-hyun today, UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings calls on him to exert his authority and influence on the government and on the E.Land management.

- Last night's forced eviction of the picketing workers by using police force is unacceptable. To believe that this would 'clean up' the Seoul World Cup Stadium and thus help avoid embarrassment and a loss of face when FC Seoul plays against Manchester United today is a mistake.

- On the contrary, this action is an affront against the visiting club and its players, who know that as they are playing the game, the young women who were victimised by their employer are arrested at police stations around Seoul, UNI writes, adding that the E.Land labour conflict is also about the credibility of Korean economic and social development.

- When the government introduced the new labour legislation, its declared intention was to address the problem created by the very high rate of non-regular workers existing under precarious conditions on your country's labour market. If this is now allowed to fail because of the inability of the government to control a leading employer who openly defies the new legislation, it can open the doors for a general disrespect for fair labour standards and the rule of law in working life.

- We know and appreciate your background as a champion for human rights, Philip Jennings writes to President Roh. - We also accept that decisions are made by members of your government on issues where you have difficulties in involving yourself. Recognising this, we do, however, feel that this is a case where your personal authority and moral leadership, and your direct intervention, is now called for.

- Labour conflicts have to be settled through negotiations, not by the police, UNI says. - We therefore ask you to intervene personally to secure the immediate release of all arrested E.Land workers and their trade union representatives. We also appeal to you to use your influence to bring the company to the negotiating table in good faith, to abandon its financial claims on the union which are intended to destroy it, and to support the parties in finding a solution which gives justice to the young women and men who have been victimised.

For more stories and pictures on the E.Land workers' struggle, go to the dedicated UNI Commerce webpage:

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