The National Human Rights Commission of Korea(Chairperson, Hyun Byung-chul) urges the Minister of Employment and Labor to devise measures to prevent massive layoff and guarantee job security of apartment guards of which number amounts to more than 35,000 in Seoul.
Starting from January 1, 2015, minimum wage standard will be applied to apartment security guards, which is expected to increase labor costs. There is a growing concern that increased labor costs will lead to massive dismissal in an attempt to reduce expenses. For example, the Nowon Labor Welfare center says that 60 security guards working at an apartment in Joonggyedong were notified that their contract will be terminated as from 31 December, 2014. As such, the concern is becoming a reality.
Working as a security guard at an apartment is often called as the last resort for retired men and older men. However, most of them are working in a poor condition, as 83.7 % of them are indirectly employed, and 94.6 % of them are non-regular workers with a short contract period of from 3 months to 1 year according to the survey conducted by the NHRCK in 2013.
As such, security guards are working at poor conditions and massive dismissal of them should not be tolerated. However, there exists no measure to address the issue, not to mention that exact employment condition and treatment of security guards are not identified yet.
Massive dismissal of apartment security guards is not just a matter of individual guard. It also could affect apartment residents because reduced number of security guards might hamper people's rights to live in a pleasant and safe environment. Accordingly, the government should devise measures to address the issue.
Therefore, the NHRCK would like to call for measures that can prevent massive layoffs, guarantee job security and improve human rights situation of apartment security guards including conducting nation-wide surveys on working conditions of apartment security guards.
