hankyoreh

How many government agencies and state-run companies abide by labor laws while employing irregular workers?

It turns out even the Constitutional Court has violated the Labor Standards Act, making life harder for irregular workers when most Koreans expect the government to set the example.

According to a study of 1,085 public institutions over the past three years taken by the civic group People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy's (PSPD) Committee of Labor and Society, a total of 1,626 violations were found at 669 government offices, or 61.6 percent of offices that were part of the study, which was unveiled May 2. Violations included delays in payment of wages and failing to pay overtime.

Five violations were found at judicial institutions. The Constitution Court does not clearly state contract conditions and the Seoul High Court does not give annual or monthly paid vacations. The Ministry of Labor was also accused of failing to comply with regulations regarding work hours and overdue severance payments.

A Ministry of Labor document, obtained by PSPD throughout a public information act, showed 752 violations were found at 329 public institutions between 2005 and 2006. The document contains information on the ministry's inspections of 528 public institutions that hired a number of irregular workers.

Some 55 of 74 state-funded educational institutions were found to have violated the Labor Standards Act as well. Twenty two local governments committed violations as well, as did 161 of 231 agencies in the national government.

In response, the Ministry of Labor has issued "correction orders," the weakest punishment possible.



Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]