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Typhoon
Joined: 29 May 2007
Location: Daejeon
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 Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject: Another reason to hate the former Roh gov't |
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(Stepping on to soap box)
As if any more reasons were needed to hate the Roh gov't and how useless they were, but I have one more. The cancelling of Arbor Day and Constitution Day day as holidays. Because these two days were cancelled and the crazy combination of the lunar and solar calendar there are only 4 days of vacation this year for the average business man and gov't employee. 4 FREAKING DAYS!!!!!
I remember grumbling about the cancellations last year, but this year the average worker is really going to feel it. Seriously, did the Roh gov't do anything that actually helped South Korea? I know they gave a shit load of money to North and to the Taliban, but what did they actually do to help the average Korean? I asked some of my adult students this question and their only answer was he helped relations with North Korea (I responded with the question of how that helped the average Korean...they couldn't answer that). Why are people not protesting in the streets that in 5 years Roh and his party did absolutely nothing, but make South Korea a weaker country and a worse place to live in. And now while his former party is blocking up the gov't over the past week, in order to stop bills from even being voted on that may make life easier for Koreans, people still just sit back and take it. Roh and his party have done and are trying to do more harm to South Korea then 2MB could do in 10 years in office. Why are people not more pissed about this?????
(Stepping off of soap box) |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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...but Koreans should fear vacation...
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/01/123_37407.html
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By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
Kim Kyoung-mok, a managerial-level employee at a big local builder, has been used to working holidays for the past three years. With a major residential development project underway in Busan, Christmas and New Year didn't mean vacation for his team, but extra time to visit and tour the construction site. But this year was different.
Kim is currently taking his eighth day off work, the longest vacation he has had in more than 15 years. The extended time off was courtesy of his employer, but Kim isn't too excited about it.
``Physically, I'm well-rested,'' said the 46-year-old, who has been with the company for almost two decades. ``But mentally, I'm feeling nervous and stressed.''
Explaining that his company ``encouraged'' most employees to take long year-end and New Year breaks due to slow business, Kim says he misses the days when he was overworked.
Many employers, particularly in the construction and manufacturing industries, are forcing employees to take leave or long vacations to help cut costs and slash production.
Strapped automakers including GM Daewoo, Ssangyong Motor and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group are companies leading the trend of extended holidays as they have rolled back production to work around waning demand for their products.
GM Daewoo, for example, halted its assembly lines from Dec. 22 to Jan. 4, leaving workers with a long two-week break. They also agreed to being paid less during the period.
Small- and medium-sized car parts suppliers are facing even lengthier breaks as their key buyers hold off on purchases.
``We're trying to endure as much as we can before we start laying people off,'' said Kim Hyung-taek, an executive of Cartech, which supplies Renault Samsung. ``Our fate is pretty much up to how carmakers weather this terrible storm.''
Firms in the electronics manufacturing business are opting for a similar solution.
Employees of Samsung and LG Electronics have been asked not to show up for work from Dec. 31 to Jan. 2 unless there is a ``dire need'' to do so.
``People at the Seoul offices have less work to do if the production lines aren't running at full capacity,'' said one rank-and-file worker at LG Electronics, who didn't want to be named.
Some companies, such as Hana Daetoo Securities, Standard Chartered First Bank and Citibank, are even using the latest slump as an opportunity to offer employees an early retirement package.
Long holidays would have been welcomed if business was running on a firm footing. But for most workers, the ``courtesy'' is burdensome.
One employee of Asiana Airlines, which is offering long-term unpaid vacation of up to three months, says there are very few workers taking advantage of the option.
``You never know if your desk may be gone while you're gone,'' she said, adding that the best strategy for salaried workers now is to keep a low profile, yet be seen.
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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Many agree with you, OP.
It's ridiculous that the Roh administration NEGOTIATED the FTA with the USA and now Roh and his pals OPPOSE it.  |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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Big difference between paid "holiday vacations" and unpaid vacations.
Of course no one wants to take unpaid vacations. |
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