Between March and April, ten Vietnamese migrant workers working for Taehung Construction, a subcontractor for Hyundai Construction, building a container wharf in Incheon city were arrested over strike-related activities. They were charged with “obstruction of business, interfering with the regular business operations of the company, inciting group violence, and assault with a deadly weapon” for two walk-outs.
The workers had reportedly been forced to work 12-hour shifts with a one hour break, seven days a week for a minimum hourly wage of 4,110 KRW (2.6 Euros) even though their employment contract stipulated a five-day work week. Initially the workers were granted three free meals a day but the management informed them that starting from July 2010, only lunch would be provided free and Taehung would deduct 240,000 KRW (150 Euros) from their monthly wages for breakfast and dinner. Workers asked for improved wages and food. However, the company responded by threatening to report them to the Ministry of Labour and have them deported. Workers then went on strike in July 2010 and again in January 2011. The workers were then charged with “obstruction of business, interfering with the regular business operations of the company, inciting group violence, and assault with a deadly weapon for two walk-outs. The prosecution claims that the illegal strike caused significant financial losses to Taehung. At the first trial which took place on 26 May, the prosecution sought prison sentences ranging from one to three years for the workers.