hankyoreh

On Friday Labor Minister Kim Dae Hwan called the National Human Rights Commission's finding that proposed legislation on irregular workers is inadequate in protecting their rights "a political act that that is off balance." Later he joined in a live online debate, where he used bizarrely reckless language in criticizing the commission. He was hinting that he has no intention of accommodating its position.

His attitude is a virtual declaration that the government's reason for wanting to amend the legislation, that it wants to "protect irregular workers," is merely an excuse. The commission is the nation's highest level human rights body, and labor rights are a key part of civil rights. Commission officials did not arrive at their position by sitting at their desks. It examined the issue for six months, holding public hearings with experts from diverse areas of society, including representatives from the Labor Ministry.

Furthermore the commission is merely asking that universal, international standards are observed. In it reports it invokes as Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 7 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, which call for the right to the same pay for the same labor. The government and big business love the term "global standards," and what could be a more universal global standard than that?

That is why Kim's comments are so dumbfounding. You could understand big business getting upset, for being a party with a direct interest in the matter. What Kim said, however, is not something that should come from the man responsible for mediating conflict between labor and capital and establishing guidelines. If, that is, the goal is not to ignore every last standard and create conditions advantageous exclusively to business. We hope he gives thought to why, if the proposed changes to the legislation are really about protecting people in irregular positions, irregular workers and even the human rights commission opposed to them.

It would never be too late for the government to start leading the way in adequately reflecting the commission's position in the labor, business, and government dialogue currently underway at the National Assembly. That is its responsibility and right as the "fair enforcer," a role given to the government by the people.

The Hankyoreh, 16 April 2005.


[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]