Mental Illnesses Considered Work-Related

In response to complaints filed by some labor unionists, who say they have suffered from mental illnesses due to management`s pressure, the labor welfare organization decided to offer compensations.

The Korea Labor Welfare Corporation said on July 3 that it would grant a long-term leave for five of the eight union members at Chunggu Sungshim Hospital Seoul, who argued that they had suffered from depression, feelings of insecurity and instability for years due to management` pressure on the labor union.

Whether to arrange compensations for the rest three, however, will be decided later after a physical examination and a panel meeting.

This is the first time mental illnesses suffered by labor unionists are considered work-related, although the corporation found a mental illness resulted from co-workers` ostracizing work-related earlier.

“As the management continues to monitor labor union activities, discriminate and abuse verbally and physically unionists, about a half of our members are now suffering from mental illnesses,” said the labor union at Chunggu Sungshim Hospital.

“We could not know whether there were abuses and discrimination as argued by the labor, but the mental illnesses were seen as work-related,” said the corporation of its decision.

The management of the hospital refused to comment on the decision, saying `there is nothing to say`.

“The corporation must arrange compensations for the rest three and launch an investigation so as to root out management` abuses against laborers,” the Medical Workers Union welcomed the decision, urging the welfare corporation and the labor ministry to act.

Kyung-Joon Chung news91@donga.com