The Asiana Airlines labor union has filed a complaint with the labor ministry, alleging that the airline is systematically denying flight attendants their annual leave, making it difficult for them to balance work and family life.
In a press conference held on November 7th, the union announced the results of a survey conducted among 193 cabin crew members, revealing that 97.9% of respondents had their annual leave requests denied. The average number of times leave was denied was 9.1, and 97% of respondents reported not being given a reason for the denial. A shocking 22.3% of respondents stated that they had not been granted any annual leave at all in the first ten months of the year.
"The company doesn't provide any reasons for denying leave requests, and when we desperately ask for time off, they suggest taking sick leave instead," said Yoo Mi-sun, a flight attendant with 25 years of experience. "It's impossible to maintain a normal family life under these circumstances. We're forced to choose between our jobs and our families. All we want is the basic right to balance our work and personal lives."
Kwon Su-jeong, the union chairperson, criticized the airline's practices, stating, "Flight attendants are being forced to give up their personal lives and health, and they can only raise their children if they resign. Despite the government's emphasis on addressing the low birthrate, companies continue to make it impossible for women to balance work and family."
The union attributes this issue to excessive cost-cutting measures implemented in anticipation of the merger with Korean Air, which has led to severe staffing shortages and compromised the well-being of employees.
Kim Eum-pyo, a labor lawyer representing the union, argued that under Korean labor law, employees have the right to take their annual leave when they request it, with limited exceptions for business reasons. "Asiana Airlines' refusal to grant annual leave is a clear violation of labor law," Kim said.
In response to these allegations, Asiana Airlines stated that the survey results may not be representative as only 193 out of approximately 3,300 cabin crew members participated. The airline also pointed out the flexible nature of flight attendant schedules, which can make it challenging to accommodate all leave requests.
However, the airline acknowledged the concerns raised by the union and stated that it has been actively recruiting new cabin crew members to address staffing shortages and plans to continue working to improve the leave approval process.
The union's complaint has sparked a wider debate about the working conditions of flight attendants in South Korea and the need for better protections for working mothers.
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