Government revises worker transition plan

The government has extended by two years the timetable for making more than 41,000 temporary workers permanent employees.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor yesterday presented its study of employment conditions of temporary workers at public institutions in 2012 and also announced its revised plan of employment stabilization for temporary workers.

In 2011, the government said it planned to move 41,000 temporary workers from 799 public institutions nationwide to permanent employment by 2013, but that plan has been extended to 2015.

The Labor Ministry said the country has targeted 22,914 contract workers to become permanent workers, and 22,069 of them were transitioned last year.

Nevertheless, the number of contract workers at public institutions increased by 8,621 from 2011, to 2012 to a total of 249,614, according to the Labor Ministry.

It added that about 30,000 contract workers, including security guards hired by local governments and visiting nurses hired by community service groups as well as some workers from public universities and newly established government agencies that were not counted in the 2011 study were included this time.

“Previously, we concentrated on translating more contract-based workers into permanent workers, but we will also try to improve labor conditions from now on,” said a spokesman for the Labor Ministry.

The average wage for contract workers at public institutions was 1.71 million won ($1,499) per month and the average wage for part-time employees was 810,000 won.

The Labor Ministry said the average monthly wage for contract workers at private companies was 1.69 million won.

“Public institutions must try to improve their employment practices by hiring more regular workers at positions that used to be filled by temporary workers if we want to see a similar effort from private companies as well,” said Phang Ha-nam, labor minister.

By Kwon Sang-soo [sakwon80@joongang.co.kr]