Homeplus gives 14,000 contractors permanent jobs

Homeplus has converted more than 10,000 contract workers into regular employees, the discount chain announced Monday.

The retailer said that it granted permanent employment status to 14,283 employees, accounting for 62 percent of the entire 23,000 workers from Homeplus, Homeplus Stores and Homeplus Holdings.

More than 70 percent of Homeplus employees are women.

Following the decision, 99 percent of Homeplus workers are now regular employees.

The new employment status means that almost all Homeplus workers have the same promotion opportunities, offering a path for workers who joined the company as irregular workers to obtain higher positions that were previously virtually inaccessible.

“This change is very meaningful to not just the 14,283 employees but the entire Homeplus family,” said Homeplus CEO Lim Il-soon in a statement.

“The fact that Homeplus employees that have been with the company are standing at the new starting point is a major event at Homeplus and will become a turning point that solidifies the future of the company.”

By Jin Min-ji