An Introduction of Korea Labor Welfare Center
2001.12.1~ 2012.now
KLWC(Korea Labor Welfare Center) was founded on February 18th, 2002 in order to achieve social integration and enhance the welfare of socially-marginalized, non-regular workers and petty low-income workers who have been pushed into the edge of the corner on welfare in our society.
Kim Keum Soo, who was the former chairman of KBS and former leader of the Korea Tripartite Commission, was appointed as the founding chairman of KLWC. Kim Young Dae, a former lawmaker and auditor of Korea Labor Welfare Corporation was appointed as the second chairman and Hwang Won Rae, who is an active member that represents public interests of the National Labor Relations Commission and the former president and publisher of Daily Labor News currently holds the title of Chairman. KLWC provides and develops a variety of labor welfare services to enhance the overall well-being of the low income bracket such as non-regular workers, women, the elderly, children and foreign workers. The organization also strives to elevate the welfare of the domestic labor force and create jobs for vulnerable members of society in hopes of supporting social enterprises.
The KLWC boasts such members who have gained reputation and dependability through participating in various civic activities and 350 labor unions including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Korean Federation of Trade Unions. Other prominent people with major companies such as certain public enterprises and activists of civic social organizations also actively take part as director in charge and enjoy numerous supporting roles within the organization.
●A project to enhance the welfare of vulnerable members of society ( such as the study on the Policy Development)
Ever since its founding, KLWC has carried out many studies including 'A Study on Current Situation and Promotional Strategies for the Welfare of Domestic Corporations' at the request of the Ministry of Employment and Labor(2002). This was followed by 'A Study on the Methods for Promoting Roles of the Tripartite (Employees, Employers and Government) for Regional Economic Revitalization and taking action against outsourcing in Manufacturing' at the request of the city of Bucheon(2005), 'A Study to Resolve Discrepancy in Causing People to Change Jobs, in Hiring, and Searching for Jobs Depending on Different Age Groups.’ (2006), 'The Analysis of Human Resources in Employment and the Research on the Creation of Jobs'(2007) and a number of other studies on labor and welfare related topics i.e. 'A Study on the Labor Union’s Social Activities Status and Program Development’ at the request of the Seoul Municipal Government(2009). In the first half of 2011, KLWC conducted a project on behalf of Korean Postal Workers' Union called 'Assessment and Guidelines for the Business Overview of Social Contribution of Labor Unions.’ It has also held forums to produce training materials with such topics as ' A Study on the Solution of the Welfare Disparity Between the Regular Workers of Large Companies and Small Businesses'(2004), ‘The Reality of Polarization and the Future and Rooms for Improvement in the Labor Welfare of Korea’ 2005), ‘The Case Study of Financial Profit and Activities of Social Contribution for Labor Unions’ (2006), ‘Connecting the Dots Between Social Enterprises and Labor Unions to Attain Lucrative Social Contribution’(2009) and 'Social Accountability of Labor Unions'(2011). The aforementioned above were the main subject during the forum each year.
KLWC has organized volunteer work such as attending to the severely disabled elderly by volunteers of Labor Unions (2006), a cultural festival for injured workers at Jung-ang hospital in Incheon sponsored by companies such as Daewoo Securities Co., Ltd. , Good Morning Shinhan Securities Co., Ltd., Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.(2007), A healing concert to support the rehabilitation of injured workers (2008), providing refurbished PC for Ggemyeongwon, a facility for the mentally handicapped in Ganghwado (2011) and the volunteer work & the support for the ‘Lake House’ in Hongcheon (2012) etc.
●Planning and Operation of portal site (http://www.workdream.net)
What is noteworthy is that KLWC built a portal site (http://www.workdream.net) after two years of research and development to facilitate the online information system for promoting the welfare of low income workers in 2007 and within less than 2 years, the site has exceeded 200,000 members, becoming one of the most preferred and visited site among everyday people and low income workers.
●Leading the role in Labor Union Forums which Contribute to Society
Through six different so called ‘Labor Welfare Forums’, they collected cases of social activities pertaining to labor unions which was made into a presentation. Its role was to create and raise social enterprises as a means to promote the labor welfare by taking the lead in seeking new ways to improve the state for Labor Unions. Beginning with supporting to create and raise social enterprises in order to create jobs for those vulnerable members of society and public services in 2009, it was designated as a social enterprise to-be, recognized by the City of Seoul and had established a courier service company in Feb. 2010. It established a Namyangju-Guri branch in Mar. 2010 to lead organize social enterprise network in Guri- Namyangju and created a new model for a labor counseling center. It also supported social enterprises establishing the Namyangju Gaundong Haneulso toy library working in conjunction with the Namyangju women support center, a regional civic group. By the same token, it established a branch in Gwangmyeong, south of Seoul, in March 2011.
● Spreading the Love for " PC Sharing Movement for low-income classes"
Additionally, in a society where the digital divide transforms into the discrepancy in income, it has spread so-called " PC Sharing Movement with love" (refurbished PC ) to reduce the information gap for the underprivileged starting in late 2009 by signing a mutual memorandum of understanding with Yunhap Infomax Inc., Korea Post, NIA, Korea Labor Welfare Corp., Huaman Resources Services of Korea, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Hana Bank, KBS, and SBS. Low-income people who otherwise would not have had access were donated 1500 computers at no cost.
● Spreading " Asia Solidarity Program" for Workers from Underdeveloped Asian Countries
In addition to domestic labor welfare promoting program, it has spread the "Asia Solidarity Program" which is an international labor welfare sharing program for underdeveloped Asian countries such as Nepal, Mongolia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, etc.
The program has contributed to bringing in personal computers to classrooms at 3 schools in Nepalese mountain villages through signing an agreement with GEFONT( General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions) in March 2011 and donated clothes and personal computers to 3 organizations including Mongolia-Korea Welfare Center with the aid from CMTU(Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions). Likewise, it has carried out sharing programs for vulnerable social groups from 10 underdeveloped Asian countries including East Timor, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, etc.
More recently, it has carried out " HAPPY SHARING" program which supports vulnerable social groups from 3 countries ( Myanmar, Vietnam, Mongolia) to donate recycled resources in Korea by working together with Hana Bank.
KLWC will continue to strive and make every effort to advancing social unity as it is seeking your unwavering support.
● it's fellow peoples with KLWC
Ececutive
Hwang Won Rae chairman ( a member representing public interests of the National Relations Commission, the former president of Daily Labor News )
Chun Young Il top executive ( the vice chairman of Democratic Press Civic Union, the former leader of KBS Trade Union )
Yang Heong Seung executive ( the former leader of Korean Construction Federation Trade Unions)
Park Tae Joon executive ( the Roh Aide of welfare )
Lee Sang Hak executive ( the former deputy minister of policy of KCTU )
Ko Jong Hwan executive ( a member of workers' councils in Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission)
Park Sung Kuk executive ( the president of daily labor news)
Lee Hoh Soo executive( the executive director of social enterprise gyeunggi foundation )
Kim Jin Heuk executive ( the former chairman of Korea securities commission )
Choi Sung Hak executive( the former planning deputy minister of daily labor news)
Lee Min Suck executive (lawyer )
Heo Hee Young executive( the professor of Korea Aerospace University )
Kim Dae Woong ( the president of Golden Bridge Securities Co., Ltd.
Advisor
Kim Keum Soo ( the former leader of Korea tripartite commission, the former chairman of KBS)
Kwon Young Kil ( Rep. of the Democratic Labor Party, the former leader of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions)
Park In Sang ( the former leader of Korean federation of Trade Unions, the former MP of millenium democratic party)
Lee Won Bo ( the former leader of the National Labor Relations Commission)
A Direction Committee
Lee Soo Ho ( the former leader of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions)
Lee Yong Deuk ( the former leader of Korean federation of Trade Unions )
Consultant
Kim Young Sun ( the former MP of Grand National Party )
Roh Hoi-chan ( the former MP)
Dan Byeung Ho ( the former MP)
Bae Il Do( the former MP)
Cho Seung Soo( the MP of Progress New Party )
Sim Ssang Jung ( the former MP)
Lee Mok Hee ( the former MP)
Cheon Young Se ( the former MP )
Kim Young Bae (a full-time vice chairman of Korea Employers Federation)
