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The Korean union of employees of the Swedish furniture company IKEA went on strike for four days last month calling for an improvement in the unfair treatment.
While Korean store sales are growing rapidly, the work environment is more discriminated against compared to stores in other countries.
After the first report, additional reports from employees followed.
Today we report on the measures that limit the use of toilets to ‘6 minutes’.
This is Lee Moon-hyun.
◀ Report ▶
The manager called Mr. A, an IKEA employee, after going to the bathroom three months ago.
Due to dermatitis, it took longer than usual to go through the locker room to disinfect and change the bandage, but the manager knew exactly when Mr. A left and when he returned.
[A씨/이케아 직원]“I measured the time I was in and out of the locker room, and the manager gave me his opinion that I spent too much time.”
And a few days later, Mr. A’s department head posted a notice in the group chat room.
They said they respected the situation when they had to go to the bathroom outside of recess, but the average use of the bathroom by an adult was 6 minutes.
If it takes more than 6 minutes, you were told to use the individual breaks given separately.
He spoke quietly, but after that, ‘6 minutes to the bathroom’ became an unspoken rule.
[A씨/이케아 직원]“The 6-minute time is the pressure … unspoken rules have emerged. (If you don’t follow them), when evaluating performance, ‘I work hard but I go to the bathroom often …’ This kind of evaluation can lead.”
Excluding time to go to the bathroom and wash your hands, you can actually spend about 3 minutes in the bathroom.
I can see even this, and I have no choice but to hold on and go for lunch or a run.
[B씨/이케아 직원]“I think I used it for about 10 minutes in the past, but within 6 minutes of seeing the message (it resolves). I feel like my physiology is not well resolved due to time pressure.”
There is another problem with the bathroom.
Mr. D, who is in charge of washing the dishes, can go to the bathroom at any time by regulation, but cannot.
When Mr. D goes to the bathroom, there are no staff to take care of him and the glasses that continue to pass through the automatic belt will fall off and break if pushed.
Finally, Mr. D contracted cystitis while holding his urine.
[D씨/이케아 직원]“It’s a medicine for cystitis. Two months after I joined the company (I ate). I thought that was the case, but there are many (workers who take medicine). I guess.”
So what about the situation at IKEA headquarters?
According to the Swedish union IKEA, local employees also have a so-called “pika time” during afternoon coffee breaks, and outside of the 15-minute two-hour break, they can go to the bathroom and drink water at any time.
Even if you look at domestic hypermarkets right now, there is nowhere that restricts the use of bathrooms.
[정민정/마트산업노동조합 위원장]“This problem is a problem that we can no longer find in (domestic) hypermarkets. A long time ago, and restricting the right to go to the bathroom is really backward work behavior.”
The IKEA union held a four-day strike at the end of last month, asking to reduce discrimination against foreign employees, such as injustices and pay problems.
In the last fiscal year, IKEA sales increased 33% in one year to 660 billion won, but IKEA promised a 500 won increase in meals to employees who went on strike.
In addition, another foreign company, Costco, said that it prevents the coronavirus and prevents cashiers from drinking water while working.
[코스트코 직원]“If I explain things like automatic debit while wearing a mask, it makes me thirsty and very thirsty … I have to talk a lot … when I have to put up with it for a long time, 4 hours …”
Foreign companies that pay lower salaries than headquarters and ignore the basic rights of Korean employees.
It is noted that the behavior of those who earn money in Korea and only take social assistance abroad has exceeded grade.
This is Moon-Hyun Lee, MBC News.
(Video coverage: Kim Baekseung / Video editing: Komu Geun)
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