This is an artist's impression of a completed ice hockey stadium, which is currently one of many buildings under construction for the 2018 Winter Olympics. The International Olympic Committee is looking into a wage dispute involving construction workers. / Courtesy of PyeongChang Organizing Committee



By Jung Min-ho

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is investigating labor issues that have hindered preparations for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) said Thursday that the IOC asked the umbrella union last month for documents related to unpaid wages for construction workers, who have been building facilities for the international event.

"We have submitted the documents to the IOC," a KCTU official told The Korea Times. "In cooperation with Building and Woodworkers' International (BWI), the KCTU has been pushing the IOC to investigate the issues, which have aggravated workers here for months."

According to the union, the total amount of back wages at construction sites related to the Winter Olympics was 13.5 billion won last year.

"Some companies paid workers belatedly, but still, more than 4 billion won ($3.5 million) remain due, including 3 billion won for workers who have been building the Jungbong Alpine Skiing Venue," the official said. "Some workers went through really tough times because they could not pay rent for the construction machinery they used."

"Some companies still refuse to pay, offering their workers about 70 percent of the money they initially promised. Some workers take such deals reluctantly but some don't. It is still a mess."

The organizing committee for the Olympics said in a statement that it is trying to resolve the issue in talks with companies and workers, saying the issue will not greatly affect the preparations for the event.

This is the latest problem involving Olympic construction workers in PyeongChang in eastern Gangwon Province. Last year, two workers died while working at the construction site; one truck driver suffered a heart attack while helping to build a new high-speed rail link; another lost his life after falling to the ground while changing a container in a de-icing spraying machine.

During her visit to PyeongChang in March, Coordination Commission Chair Gunilla Lindberg urged the organizing committee to ensure workers' safety.

Her statement came after BWI General Secretary Ambet Yuson's visit to Korea in February. Speaking to a local newspaper, he asked the Korean government and the IOC to pay more attention to the safety of workers in PyeongChang.

"Two workers have already lost their lives," he said. "More of such incidents could happen again as worker finish the work this and next year. They need proper safety measures."