The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) held a hearing on legislation to protect economically dependent workers(special types of employment) on August 17, 2007, at the learning center of the Commission’s headquarters in Seoul.
As forms of employment have proliferated and become increasingly flexible, more workers are subject to unjust treatment that is not yet protected in the existing legal framework, specifically the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act and the Labor Standards Act. However, proper protection for these workers is also causing social friction in society.
With this, the Commission conducted a suo-moto investigation on infringements of rights for economically dependent workers (special types of employment) in 2006 and released the findings publicly on March 30, 2007.
The latest hearing was an opportunity for the public to express their opinions regarding the status of economically dependent workers and their level of legal protection.
Among the experts present at the hearing were labor officials Jeong-Yeop Yoo, head of the Policy Department of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, and Tae-Hyun Kim, head of the Policy Office of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. Government officials were also present, including Hyung-woo Chung, head of the Non-Regular Workers Team of the Ministry of Labor and Ho-Geum Lee, senior expert on the panel of workers, employers and government officials. Experts from other fields and disciplines joined the hearing, as well, including In-su Chung, senior researcher at the Korea Labor Institute and Ji-Soon Park, professor of law at Sungkyungkwan University. The discussion was lively and productive.
The participants at the hearing reviewed legislative bills, among them the Bill on the Protection of Economically Dependent Workers, which the Ministry of Labor submitted to the National Assembly on June 15, 2007. The Commission will seek ways to protect economically dependent workers, according to the reviews from the hearing participants.
The National Human Rights Commission of Korea was established in 2001 to promote human rights education and defend those who have experienced discrimination, or have had a right violated, in Korea. The Commission offers counseling, full investigation and protection for citizens, along with educational initiatives for organizations.
* "Eonomically Dependent Workers (Special Types of Employment)", or "at will employment," is contract-based work, which suggests that the employee will work at the will of the employer. Employers insert these provisions into contracts in order to avoid claims of wrongful termination of employment, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing of wages, or discrimination. Inclusion of such provisions places a large burden on the employee, especially in cases where people expect jobs to be permanent, or steady, work.
