• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.117-143
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• 2006

This paper illuminates the patterns of growth and declines in sizes of union membership in metal, chemical, financial, and auto transport sectors in three distinct periods during the last four decades from 1963 to 2003. This paper also calculates union densities in auto assembly, auto supply, and shipbuilding industries of the metal sector, cement, petroleum refining, and pharmaceutical industries of the chemical sector, private banking industry of the financial sector, and city bus industry of the auto transport sector. Such diversities in both sizes of union membership and union densities among sectors and industries turned out to be associated with attitudes and choices of employers and unions in interaction with sector- and industry-specific economic (growth stage and path), institutional (degrees of government intervention), and social (demographic features of employees and prevailing sizes of firms) environment. Such finding shows that theoretical reasonings on sizes of union membership and union densities across sectors and industries in advanced nations are also relevantly useful to analyze the Korean case.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.139-159
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• 2004

This paper explores the determinants of re-employment of retired military personnel who served more than ten years in Korea. Recently, the re-employment rate of veterans is less than 30%. Considering the reduction in military forces in future, this very low rate of re-employment may be one of important social and economic problem. Using a survey and econometric analyses, we generate several important results. First, spouses' income is higher in the group who chose to run their own business than in the group who decided to become salary workers. Second, those who gave economic activities had longer the period of military service, higher ranks, and higher rate of being in bad health. Third, the longer the military service period is, the shorter the period of job search. And those who not taking the program of vocational guidance have short search period. If, however, one was more educated or one served longer in Seoul area, then she is more likely to have a longer search period. These results imply that the current important factors in government policies for veterans such as vocational guidance programs, information for employment, and military experience should be improved to be more oriented to the requirements of employers.

• Journal of Labour Economics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.1-27
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• 2004

The share of self-employment shows a downward trend until 1990 and then an upward trend since then. The upward trend is mainly due to more employers and more male self-employed, which implies that self-employment plays a significant role as an alternative form of employment. This paper examines whether self-employment can be a bridge between no work and wage work in the processes entering into or exiting labor market, and if so, what determines the choice of self-employment as a bridge, using the data from the Korea Labor and Income Panel Survey(Wave 1 to Wave 5). Empirical analysis employing the probit model shows that the older, female, the less educated, and persons with bad health are more likely to choose self-employment as a bridge in the exit process and that they are less likely to choose it as a bridge in the entry process. Business cycle has a statistically significant negative effect on its role of bridge employment in the exit process but not in the entry process. The result implies that, in the ageing society, labor market policy should consider self-employment as a better alternative than wage work for the aged.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.134-152
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• 2008

Functional, aesthetic and symbolic working uniforms in the industrial complex are demanded by employees and employers. The purpose of this research was to find out the actual wearing condition and preference of the working uniform design in the industrial complex. The research selected 7 enterprise subjects located in the Changwon National Industrial Complex and adopted a questionnaire method. 912 workers categorized into 4 work groups according to their work posts replied in total. The data and the degrees of satisfaction/preference of the working uniforms were analysed into descriptive statistics and F-tests by using the SPSS S/W package. The results were as follows: First, the style of the working uniform was the standard two-piece style. Second, the degree of the satisfaction with the entrepreneurial image implied to the working uniform was 2.83 throughout the 5-scale evaluation. In addition, the degree of the satisfaction with the working uniform colors was in between 2.94 and 2.96. Third, unsatisfied parts of the upper and lower uniform garments were: sleeve > pocket > collar; and waist belt loop > hip pocket > hem line respectively. Fourth, beige was the most preferred color for the working uniform top and bottom both. The most preferred color images were the calm and safety and the bright and light in order. Especially, the demand on the safety factors and soil proof colors of the outside field workers was much higher than the clerical workers. Fifth, the blouson type jacket with shirts collar or soutien roll collar was more preferred to than the casual style; and the straight formal pants were more preferred to than the casual/sweat sports pants styles. Sixth, inner pockets to keep the mobile phone and pens were required for upper garment details specially by manufacture workers. Increase of the waist belt loop numbers was required by all work groups.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 1993

The Korea Seaman's Act is providing that fishermen s salaries are exceptionally defined and working hours and paid leave are not defined at all. Significant problems of Fishermen's Labor Condition are, (1) It is hard to guarantee the basic right of fishermen as their wages are variable depending on the catch. (2) Excessive working hours would hamper the labor reproduction ability and increase the frequency of disaster. (3) Moreover, fishermen have to search for a new job following the lay off after working aboard during the period defined by contract. The possible implement of Seamen's Act are : (1) The wage system must be unified by regular wages. If it is hard to perish the lay system its relative importance should be diminished whereas the fixed minimum wages and the allowance depending on the position and working days should be paid. (2) This discrimination of the fishing vessels from merchant should be eliminated by removing the item on the Act which excludes the fishermen on the working hours. If it is hard to do so practically the lower regulations defining the maximum periods of duty and minimum periods of rest for fishermen must enact separately as in Japan and England. (3) The difference in the provisions of paid leave between the merchant seamen and fishermen must be abolished (4) It is the most desirable to improve the fishermen's labor conditions through the completion of the Act. However, before doing this, the employers and employees must try to solve the problems through the collective agreement by themselves.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2017

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a physical therapy-based tailored exercise program on pain, accident incidence rates, the number of work days lost, and economical loss cost for workers in an automobile parts manufacturing company. METHODS: A total of 530 workers with musculoskeletal symptoms were given a physical therapy-based tailored exercise program twice a week, for one hour a day. This exercise program consisted of movement pattern correction, muscle stretching and strengthening, and postural correction exercises, according to principles of movement impairment syndromes and medical training therapy. From 2011 to 2016, the lost days of work, accident incidence rates, and loss cost were examined. The pain measured by VAS (visual analogue scale) and the number of workers participating in the exercise program from 2014 to 2016 were also measured. The single subjects A-B design was applied and analyzed. RESULTS: After applying the exercise program, pain decreased and the number of workers participating in the program increased. Accident incidence rates, number of work days lost, and economical loss cost decreased. There was a significant correlation between the number of workers who received exercise therapy by year and accident incidence rates, lost days of work, and economical loss cost (p<.05). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to expand the physical therapy-based tailored exercise program to prevent musculoskeletal disorders because it has a positive effect on both workers and employers.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.78-89
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• 2008

This paper analyses the codes of ethics of eight engineering societies in USA and Korea focusing on fundamental canons, and major findings are as follows. Firstly, engineering societies in Korea began to make a code of ethics recent1y. Secondly, codes of ethics in USA have similar contents by mutual learning contrary to Korean cases. Thirdly, some codes of ethics in Korea are very poor and their presence are not well perceived. Fourthly, codes of ethics in Korea don't cover comprehensively responsibility to the public, to employers or clients, and to the profession. Fifthly, engineering societies in USA hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public. Sixthly, new social issues including sustainable development are well discussed in the codes of ethics in USA.

• Survey Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.85-118
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• 2008

There have been a great many ups and downs in Korean Credit Card Industries after 2000. It is certain that each Credit Card Company copes with the situations by means of its organizational capabilities. According to the evolutionary view of Institutionalism, a company's capabilities are composed of every day routines, codes, rules, learning(by doing, using, interacting) and decision makings. The purpose of this article is to verify how two Korean Credit Card Companies showed their strategic differences and what factors exposed each company's own limits. To examine the company's ordinary conducts, this study used Q methodology with a random sample of 16 members from each company. Especially from the results of Q factor analysis, it becomes clear that each company still takes a serious view of the economy of scale rather than the innovation or improvement of organizational and relational dynamics.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.268-277
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• 2012

Objectives: 1) To determine mercury levels in urine samples from garbage workers in Southern Thailand, and 2) to describe the association between work characteristics, work positions, behavioral factors, and acute symptoms; and levels of mercury in urine samples. Methods: A case-control study was conducted by interviewing 60 workers in 5 hazardous-waste-management factories, and 60 matched non-exposed persons living in the same area of Southern Thailand. Urine samples were collected to determine mercury levels by cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometer mercury analyzer. Results: The hazardous-waste workers' urinary mercury levels (10.07 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) were significantly higher than the control group (1.33 ${\mu}g/g$ creatinine) (p < 0.001). Work position, duration of work, personal protective equipment (PPE), and personal hygiene, were significantly associated with urinary mercury level (p < 0.001). The workers developed acute symptoms - of head-aches, nausea, chest tightness, fatigue, and loss of consciousness at least once a week - and those who developed symptoms had significantly higher urinary mercury levels than those who did not, at p < 0.05. A multiple regression model was constructed. Significant predictors of urinary mercury levels included hours worked per day, days worked per week, duration of work (years), work position, use of PPE (mask, trousers, and gloves), and personal hygiene behavior (ate snacks or drank water at work, washed hands before lunch, and washed hands after work). Conclusion: Changing garbage workers' hygiene habits can reduce urinary mercury levels. Personal hygiene is important, and should be stressed in education programs. Employers should institute engineering controls to reduce urinary mercury levels among garbage workers.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.140-146
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• 2014

Background: Young male and female workers are over-represented in statistics concerning negative outcomes of poor work environment and risky work. Young workers often have low awareness of risk, a lack of safety training, and inadequate introduction to the work. The aim of this study was to identify the knowledge and experiences of pupils of vocational schools concerning potential work environment risks in their future work. Methods: The study design was a dual one, and included a questionnaire and focus group interviews. The study group consisted of 239 pupils from 10 upper secondary schools, who were graduating pupils in four vocational programs: the Industrial Technology Programme, the Restaurant Management and Food Programme, the Transport Programme, and the Handicraft Programme (in which students specialize in wood products). The upper secondary schools were located in the central region of Sweden. Results: The pupils had limited knowledge that employers must, by law, conduct risk analyses and prevent risks. Many felt that they themselves are mainly responsible for performing their tasks safely. Pupils in all programs mentioned acute risk as the greatest risk at work. The theoretical education about safety at work was provided in the $1^{st}$ year of the 3-year vocational programs. Conclusion: A systematic approach to pupils' training in work environment, which is a basis for a safe and healthy workplace, is lacking. The study findings indicate that pupils are offered knowledge far from that intended by laws and by state-of-the-art occupational health risk research.