Special Forest Firefighting Crew members should be equally granted with Family Allowance
□ The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (hereinafter “NHRCK”) recommended on June 30, 2025, that the Minister of Korea Forest Service (hereinafter “the respondent”) provide family allowance to members of the Special Forest Firefighting Crew.
□ A public labor attorney, representing the complainant — a permanent government employee in the Special Forest Firefighting Crew (hereinafter “the crew”) — argued that it is unfair discrimination for the Korea Forest Service to provide family allowance to other permanent government employees but not to those working in the crew.
□ In response, the respondent explained that the crew members were initially hired as fixed-term workers through the Forest Disaster Job Program in 2016, and from 2020 onward were gradually converted to permanent government employees. However, since their wages were budgeted under the Forest Fire Prevention Project, which did not include a family allowance item, the allowance could not be paid.
□ The NHRCK’s Committee on Discrimination Remedy found that the respondent’s measures amounted to discrimination, based on the following reasons:
○ Considering the nature, purpose, and eligibility requirements of the family allowance, it is a welfare benefit paid solely on the basis of having dependent family members, regardless of the specific duties of the employee. Therefore, excluding crew members from eligibility, unlike other permanent government employees, lacks reasonable justification.
○ Furthermore, citing the absence of a specific provision in laws or guidelines for the payment of family allowance to permanent government employees, and the lack of budget allocation, cannot serve as a legitimate ground for differential treatment. The State has the responsibility to take measures to remedy discrimination.
□ Accordingly, the NHRCK recommended that the Korea Forest Service also provide family allowance to permanent government employees of the Special Forest Firefighting Crew.
