ID :
206937
Wed, 09/14/2011 - 02:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/206937
The shortlink copeid
Lacking in substance
Korea Times
(Yonhap) - The government and the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) cannot deflect criticism that they have only decided to take stopgap measures to protect non-regular workers. The measures come up well short of a genuine will to get rid of discrimination against part-time workers and day laborers in terms of wages and working conditions.
It is disappointing to realize that the Lee Myung-bak administration has only offered an empty slogan of ushering in a fair society. Needless to say, the nation cannot realize such a society without eliminating different forms of discrimination in the labor market. Most of all, it is urgent to take radical steps to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for the working class regardless of their status.
The key point of the measures announced Friday is for the government to pay one-third of premiums for unemployment insurance and national pension for non-regular workers. But the government has failed to take bolder action to allow the workers to receive the same pay and treatment as those on a regular payroll do. The GNP had floated the idea of making businesses raise payment for part-time workers to 80 percent of what full-time workers make.
The government turned down the idea in the face of resistance from employers who fear growing labor costs. How could the Lee administration compromise at the expense of low-paid workers and the underprivileged? It has proved once again that policymakers are turning a blind eye to the pain of the disadvantaged.
The nation introduced the non-regular worker system in the wake of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. In a nutshell, the government allowed businesses to hire non-regular workers to save labor costs and promote labor-market flexibility. But corporations, big or small, have abused the system to exploit cheap labor and sack those workers anytime they want.
Discrimination against non-regular workers has worsened, contributing to widening the gap between the rich and poor. It has also damaged social cohesion and harmony. No one can rule out the possibility that the problem might pose a serious threat to the foundation of the nation???s socioeconomic system.
The number of non-regular workers is estimated at 5.8 million, accounting for 33.6 percent of the economically-active population. If day laborers at construction sites are included, the number could rise to 8.6 million. Their wages stand at 50-60 percent of what regular workers earn. More serious is that part-time workers and day laborers are treated as second-class citizens.
More than anything else, the Lee administration should leave no stone unturned to reduce the number. It needs to consider providing more incentives for businesses that put non-regular workers on the regular payroll. At the same time, the authorities should make the utmost effort to firmly establish a principle of ???the same pay for the same work??? irrespective of the status of the employed.
We urge employers to take proactive steps to end discrimination against non-regular workers in terms of wages, working conditions, and treatment. They are required to take more social responsibility to ease social polarization and ensure the basic rights of part-time workers and day laborers.
We also call on labor unions to do more to help workers in weaker positions enjoy equal rights and opportunities. They have long come under attack for their selfish struggles for wage increases and job stability at the sacrifice of non-regular workers. They can stage a campaign to share jobs with the socially weak.
It???s time for labor, businesses and the government to work together to find a solution to the issue of non-regular workers. We hope that all the concerned parties will act now to make Korea a better society in which all members can fully enjoy fair treatment and equal opportunity.
(Yonhap) - The government and the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) cannot deflect criticism that they have only decided to take stopgap measures to protect non-regular workers. The measures come up well short of a genuine will to get rid of discrimination against part-time workers and day laborers in terms of wages and working conditions.
It is disappointing to realize that the Lee Myung-bak administration has only offered an empty slogan of ushering in a fair society. Needless to say, the nation cannot realize such a society without eliminating different forms of discrimination in the labor market. Most of all, it is urgent to take radical steps to ensure equal treatment and opportunities for the working class regardless of their status.
The key point of the measures announced Friday is for the government to pay one-third of premiums for unemployment insurance and national pension for non-regular workers. But the government has failed to take bolder action to allow the workers to receive the same pay and treatment as those on a regular payroll do. The GNP had floated the idea of making businesses raise payment for part-time workers to 80 percent of what full-time workers make.
The government turned down the idea in the face of resistance from employers who fear growing labor costs. How could the Lee administration compromise at the expense of low-paid workers and the underprivileged? It has proved once again that policymakers are turning a blind eye to the pain of the disadvantaged.
The nation introduced the non-regular worker system in the wake of the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. In a nutshell, the government allowed businesses to hire non-regular workers to save labor costs and promote labor-market flexibility. But corporations, big or small, have abused the system to exploit cheap labor and sack those workers anytime they want.
Discrimination against non-regular workers has worsened, contributing to widening the gap between the rich and poor. It has also damaged social cohesion and harmony. No one can rule out the possibility that the problem might pose a serious threat to the foundation of the nation???s socioeconomic system.
The number of non-regular workers is estimated at 5.8 million, accounting for 33.6 percent of the economically-active population. If day laborers at construction sites are included, the number could rise to 8.6 million. Their wages stand at 50-60 percent of what regular workers earn. More serious is that part-time workers and day laborers are treated as second-class citizens.
More than anything else, the Lee administration should leave no stone unturned to reduce the number. It needs to consider providing more incentives for businesses that put non-regular workers on the regular payroll. At the same time, the authorities should make the utmost effort to firmly establish a principle of ???the same pay for the same work??? irrespective of the status of the employed.
We urge employers to take proactive steps to end discrimination against non-regular workers in terms of wages, working conditions, and treatment. They are required to take more social responsibility to ease social polarization and ensure the basic rights of part-time workers and day laborers.
We also call on labor unions to do more to help workers in weaker positions enjoy equal rights and opportunities. They have long come under attack for their selfish struggles for wage increases and job stability at the sacrifice of non-regular workers. They can stage a campaign to share jobs with the socially weak.
It???s time for labor, businesses and the government to work together to find a solution to the issue of non-regular workers. We hope that all the concerned parties will act now to make Korea a better society in which all members can fully enjoy fair treatment and equal opportunity.
