Labor minister vows greater job security for non-regular workers

SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Yonhap) -- The government plans to enhance job security for
non-regular workers and increase unemployment compensation as part of efforts to
reinforce its social safety net in the face of looming mass layoffs, its labor
minister said Wednesday.

Minister Lee Young-hee said the government will put its policy priority on
retaining existing jobs instead of creating new ones, with domestic enterprises
set to freeze new hiring and carry out sweeping payroll cuts amid the deepening
economic downturn.
"As the economic crisis intensifies, local companies may choose to lay off
temporary workers first, forcing them to join the growing ranks of the jobless,"
Lee said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency.
"Without any administrative measures, as many as 900,000 non-regular workers may
lose their jobs this year. If the legally binding employment period is lengthened
for non-regular workers, they will stand better chances of securing regular
employment status."
Non-regular workers, who account for some 37 percent of the nation's total
workforce, have been subject to disadvantages in general working conditions,
including wage and welfare benefits, giving rise to serious social conflict.
The government enforced a non-regular worker protection law in 2007 that requires
companies to turn non-regular employees, who have been working more than two
years at a single workplace, into regular workers. But employers have been
criticized for exploiting a loophole in the law by laying off temporary workers
before two years and rehiring them as outsourced workers.
Lee said his ministry will present a bill to secure greater job security for
non-regular workers to a special parliamentary session slated for February.
The minister also revealed a plan to increase the payment period of unemployment
insurance benefits by 60 days. At present, all unemployed workers covered by a
state-administered insurance program are eligible for unemployment insurance
benefits for two to eight months, depending on circumstances.
He also said the government will consider giving incentives to companies who
guarantee stable employment for their workers, as the local job market is
expected to shrink steadily this year.
"Retaining jobs is more important than creating new jobs amid the long-term
economic recession," Lee said. "The government plans to support firms who avoid
layoffs and take other measures to stabilize employment."
brk@yna.co.kr
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