A COUNTRY FOR THE WORKING CLASS

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is a country which provides the working class with a full legal and social guarantee of political freedom and rights.

Workers in the DPRK actively take part in the socio-political activities as the masters of the state and society.

Ordinary workers are free to participate in the state administration like elections to power organs. They enjoy the right to elect or to be elected, irrespective of occupation, property status and education. Workers account for 12.7 % of the deputies to the Supreme People’s Assembly (DPRK’s parliament).

One of them is Labour Hero Mun Kang Sun who is a weaver at the Pyongyang Kim Jong Suk Textile Mill. She has been working at the mill for about 20 years, and all these years she has over fulfilled yearly plans, sometimes 2 or 3 years’ plan in a year, even after her marriage. Now she is known as a labour innovator all across the country―people love her, respect her.

The DPRK gives priority to the interests of the working class in enacting laws and enforcing policies.

Give importance to the working class, faithfully serve them and always rely on them―this is the firm stand and view of the ruling party and the government of the country.

It always considers the convenience of the workers before anything else when it builds a factory or workshop. Factories and enterprises regard it as an iron rule to take care of their workers’ lives and health before production. The state sets it as an inviolable principle to give top priority to safety and health of the workers; when this principle is breached the state takes emergency measures.

When harmful gas was leaking out of a sintering furnace at a smeltery, it blew up the furnace for the workers without hesitation although nonferrous metals were badly needed for the national economic development. It is commonplace that the workers at graphite mines are smudged with graphite powder on their faces. But in the DPRK this was dealt with seriously and officials concerned made apologies to the workers and adopted emergency measures.

There is no unemployment in the DPRK.

It is because according to its socialist labour law, those who are able to work can choose occupations that suit their aptitude and hope and are provided with jobs by the state. So everybody has stable jobs and enjoys leisure time and holidays at halls of culture, holiday camps and resorts. The state provides honoured disabled soldiers, the weak and welfare recipients with appropriate jobs to promote their health and livelihood.

In the DPRK, not a single worker was fired even in the 1990s when factories stopped running and production decreased due to anti-socialist stifling policy of and economic sanctions by the allied imperialist forces, and natural disasters that hit it for several consecutive years. The state took every possible measure to stabilize the workers’ lives and helped workers and technicians renovate their factories and bring the production back onto the normal track.

In the DPRK, ordinary workers promote their health under the free medical service system.

Once, a worker in a province was seriously injured while working. He was rushed to a local hospital and received first-aid there before he was carried to a big hospital in Pyongyang, where he got recovered in 15 days. For his treatment more than 10 academicians, professors and doctors were engaged, 70 kinds of expensive medicines were used and about 6 litres of blood was transfused. But the patient and his family did not know how much money was spent.

How workers are valued in the country is well explained by the fact that on May Day every year its ruling party and government arrange splendid artistic performances and banquets for the workers. When this day comes around, central and local government officials go out to see workers, congratulate them, encourage labour innvators to greater feats, attend sports meetings and enjoy artistic performances together with them.

Now the workers in the DPRK perform innovations and feats by devoting all their wisdom and talents to repaying the benevolence of the WPK and the state that have held them up as the masters of the country and society.

The DPRK, though a small country, is now demonstrating its dignity as one of the few satellite manufacturers and launchers, and a nuclear power. Recently it has built Rungna People’s Recreation Ground, Mirim Riding Club, Masikryong Ski Resort, Unha Scientists Street, Wisong Scientists Dwelling District and many other splendid monumental edifices across the country, and modernized many factories by introducing CNC technology into them. All this is attributable to their devoted service.

Now, they are filled with pride in and dignity of being the masters of the country and society in the van of creating the speed of Korea to hasten final victory in the struggle to build a thriving socialist nation.