The Korean Women Workers Association (KWWA or Han'guk yŏsŏng nodongjahe) is an organization in South Korea dedicated to working on women's issues and supporting women in the workplace. KWWA has actively worked to improve women's standing in Korean society, fighting for equality in the workplace and provided leadership training. KWWA also monitors the effects of government policies on women in the workforce.
Before the organization changed its name, KWWA was the first national women's workers association in Korea. While it is an independent organization, KWWA was one of the first groups to be included under the umbrella organization of the Korean Women's Associations United (KWAU).
History
In South Korea, before labor reforms, women who got married or who had children were forced to retire. In order to organize women into already established trade unions, the KWWA was founded in 1987. KWWA addressed issues that were being ignored by male-dominated unions which many women had already joined. In addition to organizing blue collar workers, KWWA organized those who were unemployed, domestic workers and other informal jobs.
Shortly after their formation, KWWA played a large role in supporting the passage of the Equal Employment Act in 1987. In 1989, The KWWA staged a protest by occupying a factory in Masan and living there. Also in the 1980s, KWWA were responsible for Nike partner factories raising the wages of workers in their facilities.
In 1990, they helped get the Infant Care Act passed. By 1993 KWWA affected the workplace with daycare centers being built near workplaces. In 1996, a former worker from the Committee of Asian Women (CAW), Maria Chol-Soon Rhie, became the chair of the organization.
KWWA has been a standard for other Asian countries to look to for best practices in improving equality in the workplace. In 2007, the organization celebrated its 20th year anniversary.