Policies to Improve Quality of Life for Irregular Workers

How does Gyeonggi province treat irregular workers? Let's check their 2021 plan out.

The recent deterioration of the economy due to the COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened conditions for irregular workers. As a result, there is increasing public demand to improve working conditions for irregular workers, such as those employed by online platforms.

To address this issue, Gyeonggi Province will finalize and implement the 2021 Gyeonggi Province Irregular Employment Improvement Plan, which includes initiatives to enhance working conditions through such measures as the introduction of fair wages for irregular workers and the upgrade of rest facilities for maintenance workers.

Gyeonggi Province Takes the Lead in Realizing a Fairer Society

The 2021 Gyeonggi Province Irregular Employment Improvement Plan includes 38 tasks in three major areas: 1) the improvement of working conditions for irregular workers in the public sector; 2) the improvement of employment structures in the private sector; and 3) the strengthening of infrastructure and policies for irregular workers. This plan was devised to address worsening working conditions, such as the widening wage gap which reached a record high of KRW 1.52 million last year, amid growing demand for new types of irregular workers.

The 2021 Gyeonggi Province Irregular Employment Improvement Plan will help improve working conditions for irregular workers

Earlier, the Gyeonggi Provincial Government established a shelter to ensure the right to rest for mobile workers and transitioned six irregular workers at Luther University into regular positions.

Improving Working Conditions for Irregular Workers in the Public Sector

First, Gyeonggi Province will propel six projects to improve working conditions for irregular workers in the public sector. The examples of efforts in this regard include increased living wages, the designation of representatives to handle grievances, and the improvement of rest facilities.

Of particular note is Gyeonggi Province's fair pay initiative for irregular workers, which is geared to ensure compensation proportional to job instability (the first undertaking of its kind in Korea), as well as efforts to set a living wage of KRW 15,400 per hour, which is 21% higher than the current minimum wage.

Gyeonggi Province's fair pay initiative is based on Governor Lee Jaemyung's policy principle of paying irregular workers more than regular workers in the public sector. The shorter the employment period, the greater the compensation.

Improving Employment Structures for Irregular Workers in the Private Sector

In terms of improving employment structures in the private sector, policies such as the establishment of a comprehensive system for protecting relevant rights and interests – such as the right to rest – are being pursued for vulnerable workers.

Specifically, the government will undertake 24 tasks, including rest facility support for apartment security workers, expansion of labor rights centers, and support for transitioning irregular workers to regular status. As a part of such efforts, for the first time in the country, 90 percent of industrial insurance premiums will be provided for approximately 2,000 delivery workers for up to a year.

Gyeonggi Province will also implement its Worker Vacation Support Project, which will provide KRW 250,000 toward vacation expenses for 1,700 irregular and special workers, thereby ensuring their right to rest. If a worker pays KRW 150,000, Gyeonggi Province will provide an additional KRW 250,000, resulting in a total sum of KRW 400,000 for vacation expenses.

In addition, the provincial government plans to promote the right to rest for vulnerable workers in various fields by improving rest facilities for 120 apartment security workers, upgrading social welfare facilities, and developing rest facilities for foreign workers.

Strengthening Infrastructure for Policy Enforcement by Encouraging On-site Communication

Gyeonggi Province will undertake eight initiatives including the implementation of a policy research system, the creation of a labor-management-government council that focuses on pending issues, and the development of irregular worker governance.

To this end, the provincial government will conduct surveys and research to measure the interim exploitation of dispatched and service workers, using the results to strengthen the foundation for policies to improve the treatment of irregular workers.

In addition, the province will strive to strengthen communication between public and private sector stakeholders. Accordingly, it will encourage active participation through the promotion of labor policies related to irregular workers as well as by recognizing companies that exemplify win-win labor and management relations.