Most non-regular workers retained jobs after July 1
Published: 04 Sep. 2009, 22:40
A government survey showed yesterday that about six out of 10 non-regular workers retained their jobs in July under the law governing their employment, as critics charged that the government’s fear of massive job losses was exaggerated.
The Labor Ministry polled 11,426 companies with at least five employees about their handling of non-regular workers. Under the law on non-regular workers, which took effect July 1, 2007, employers are required to raise the status of non-regular workers to regular workers after two years.
According to the survey, 12,440, nearly 63 percent, of the 19,760 non-regular workers at the polled firms whose contracts expired in July kept their jobs.
The survey also showed that of those 12,440, 7,276 were upgraded to regular status, and another 5,164 had their contracts renewed.
The rest saw their contracts expire and were not renewed.
Some companies responded that they ignored the law and simply renewed non-regular contracts without offering welfare benefits that usually accompany regular status. Currently, non-regular workers are still considered to be legally regular types as long as they are retained following the end of the two-year grace period. The law stipulates that employers may not dismiss non-regular workers without providing valid reasons.
The ruling Grand National Party has pushed for an amendment to the law, providing another two-year grace period for small- and medium-sized companies to provide a cushion for potential heavy job losses.
And the Labor Ministry had said a million workers would lose their jobs once the current two-year grace period ended. They reasoned that companies could be disinclined to promote their non-regular workers in the sluggish economy.
The GNP and the opposition Democratic Party have yet to reach a settlement on whether to suspend the implementation of the law. The DP has pushed to have the law take effect immediately. Umbrella labor unions have demanded the instant upgrade of status for non-regular workers.
Choo Mi-ae, the DP representative who heads the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee, blasted the Labor Ministry and the GNP for spreading false rumors.
“The survey proved that the Grand Nationals and the Labor Ministry had been disseminating fabricated figures,” Choo said in a press conference at the National Assembly. “They should stop trying to change the law and issue an apology to the people.”
The ministry, however, argued in a press release that non-regular workers who were kept on board without having their status improved still remain unstable in terms of their job security. The ministry also noted that the rate of non-regular employees who were upgraded wasn’t that different from the June figure and thus the law on non-regular labor hasn’t had much impact on companies’ employment policies.
On Thursday, the GNP said it would propose revisions to the law, so that employers can renew their non-regular workers without having to upgrade their status. The GNP also said under the revision, non-regular workers would still be offered the same working conditions and welfare benefits as regular colleagues. The Labor Ministry said it was also seeking ways to improve the working environment for non-regular workers and ensure flexibility for employers at the same time.
By Yoo Jee-ho [[email protected]]
The Labor Ministry polled 11,426 companies with at least five employees about their handling of non-regular workers. Under the law on non-regular workers, which took effect July 1, 2007, employers are required to raise the status of non-regular workers to regular workers after two years.
According to the survey, 12,440, nearly 63 percent, of the 19,760 non-regular workers at the polled firms whose contracts expired in July kept their jobs.
The survey also showed that of those 12,440, 7,276 were upgraded to regular status, and another 5,164 had their contracts renewed.
The rest saw their contracts expire and were not renewed.
Some companies responded that they ignored the law and simply renewed non-regular contracts without offering welfare benefits that usually accompany regular status. Currently, non-regular workers are still considered to be legally regular types as long as they are retained following the end of the two-year grace period. The law stipulates that employers may not dismiss non-regular workers without providing valid reasons.
The ruling Grand National Party has pushed for an amendment to the law, providing another two-year grace period for small- and medium-sized companies to provide a cushion for potential heavy job losses.
And the Labor Ministry had said a million workers would lose their jobs once the current two-year grace period ended. They reasoned that companies could be disinclined to promote their non-regular workers in the sluggish economy.
The GNP and the opposition Democratic Party have yet to reach a settlement on whether to suspend the implementation of the law. The DP has pushed to have the law take effect immediately. Umbrella labor unions have demanded the instant upgrade of status for non-regular workers.
Choo Mi-ae, the DP representative who heads the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee, blasted the Labor Ministry and the GNP for spreading false rumors.
“The survey proved that the Grand Nationals and the Labor Ministry had been disseminating fabricated figures,” Choo said in a press conference at the National Assembly. “They should stop trying to change the law and issue an apology to the people.”
The ministry, however, argued in a press release that non-regular workers who were kept on board without having their status improved still remain unstable in terms of their job security. The ministry also noted that the rate of non-regular employees who were upgraded wasn’t that different from the June figure and thus the law on non-regular labor hasn’t had much impact on companies’ employment policies.
On Thursday, the GNP said it would propose revisions to the law, so that employers can renew their non-regular workers without having to upgrade their status. The GNP also said under the revision, non-regular workers would still be offered the same working conditions and welfare benefits as regular colleagues. The Labor Ministry said it was also seeking ways to improve the working environment for non-regular workers and ensure flexibility for employers at the same time.
By Yoo Jee-ho [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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