A recent survey reveals that over half of South Korean workers have either experienced or witnessed unfair practices perpetrated by principal contractors. This highlights ongoing concerns regarding worker rights and ethical labor practices in the subcontracting sector.
Workplace Gapjil 119, a South Korean civic group dedicated to advocating for workers’ rights, released a study on Sunday indicating that 55% of surveyed workers reported experiencing abusive actions. These included discrimination in key areas like wages, leave policies, access to work equipment, and welfare facilities.
The survey, conducted by polling agency Global Research, polled 1,000 South Korean workers aged 19 and over between February 2nd and February 8th.
The most prevalent form of abuse, cited by 44% of respondents, involved discrimination related to compensation, time off, necessary work tools, holiday bonuses, and availability of welfare benefits.
Following closely were concerns related to direct supervision of subcontracted employees or the assignment of hazardous tasks (37.3%), intervention in personnel matters such as hiring decisions, leave approvals, disciplinary measures, and terminations (34.6%), instances of workplace harassment or sexual misconduct (25.6%), and obstruction of union activities, including hindering union formation or pursuing damage claims (24.2%).
When asked about their response to these situations, nearly half (49.8%) stated that they simply endured or ignored the issue.
Other responses included protesting individually or collectively with colleagues (36.4%), resigning from their positions (24%), reporting the issues to their company or a labor union (14.7%), or lodging formal complaints with relevant authorities (6.7%).
Min Hyun-ki, a labor attorney with Workplace Gapjil 119, suggests that the implementation of the “Yellow Envelope Act” could pave the way for more comprehensive collective bargaining with principal contractors.
“With the enforcement of the Yellow Envelope Act, subcontracted workers will be able to negotiate directly with principal contractors,” Min stated. “Collective bargaining should also address discriminatory practices by principal contractors.”
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