S. Korea to see major changes in labor environment
- 5 years ago
It's time for our "Life & Info" segment, where we take a look at useful information for your daily life.
Today, we will be checking out some changes that will take effect in South Korea's labor sector later this year.
For more, we have our Yoon Jung-min joining in the studio.
Jung-min, what sort of changes can we expect?
Hi, Mark. As you said, there are some changes for workers and companies in South Korea in the second half of 2019.
To begin with, more industries were included in the 52-hour maximum workweek system from July. 21 industries had been granted a one-year grace period, but now all of them have to abide by the rule.
As you can see, the 21 industries,...including broadcasters, financial services, bus service, accommodation and postal service now can't force workers to work excessive hours.
But some are raising doubts about whether these industries can strictly observe the law due to their notoriously long work hours.
If they violate the law, first they will be given a chance to fix the violation. If they don't take heed, company owners could potentially face up to two years in prison or be fined up to 17-thousand U.S. dollars.
The law now additionally affects more than one-thousand companies and over one-million workers in those industries.
For sure, this is affecting a lot of companies and workers. Are there any other changes worth keeping an eye on?
Yes, there are. From this October, people who have lost their jobs will get a higher unemployment allowance.
According to the revised employment insurance act, the allowance will be raised to 60 percent of the average wage from 50 percent.
Also, the revision raises the payment period by 30 days. Now, people can be paid by up to 270 days that's around nine months.
Part-time workers who work fewer than 15 hours or two days a week used to be unable to receive the allowance when they lost their jobs,...but now they can get benefits from the government if they have worked more than 180 days during past two years.
Aside from that, from July, parental allowance is now given to freelance female workers and self-employed women if they have a baby.
Hopefully it can raise South Korea's chronically low birthrate all while giving those women a helping hand. Also, good news for people being made to feel miserable in the office,... a law will be tightened to prohibit workplace bullying.
You're right. A new law came into effect last month to prevent harassment in the workplace. Now, company owners have the duty to prevent and stop bullying among workers because employees can officially file a complaint if they've experienced bullying.
If workers incur physical or mental suffering to other employees using their superior status or power, they can be reported to the company's owners.
Once the case is reported, employers must immediately launch an investigation and ..
Today, we will be checking out some changes that will take effect in South Korea's labor sector later this year.
For more, we have our Yoon Jung-min joining in the studio.
Jung-min, what sort of changes can we expect?
Hi, Mark. As you said, there are some changes for workers and companies in South Korea in the second half of 2019.
To begin with, more industries were included in the 52-hour maximum workweek system from July. 21 industries had been granted a one-year grace period, but now all of them have to abide by the rule.
As you can see, the 21 industries,...including broadcasters, financial services, bus service, accommodation and postal service now can't force workers to work excessive hours.
But some are raising doubts about whether these industries can strictly observe the law due to their notoriously long work hours.
If they violate the law, first they will be given a chance to fix the violation. If they don't take heed, company owners could potentially face up to two years in prison or be fined up to 17-thousand U.S. dollars.
The law now additionally affects more than one-thousand companies and over one-million workers in those industries.
For sure, this is affecting a lot of companies and workers. Are there any other changes worth keeping an eye on?
Yes, there are. From this October, people who have lost their jobs will get a higher unemployment allowance.
According to the revised employment insurance act, the allowance will be raised to 60 percent of the average wage from 50 percent.
Also, the revision raises the payment period by 30 days. Now, people can be paid by up to 270 days that's around nine months.
Part-time workers who work fewer than 15 hours or two days a week used to be unable to receive the allowance when they lost their jobs,...but now they can get benefits from the government if they have worked more than 180 days during past two years.
Aside from that, from July, parental allowance is now given to freelance female workers and self-employed women if they have a baby.
Hopefully it can raise South Korea's chronically low birthrate all while giving those women a helping hand. Also, good news for people being made to feel miserable in the office,... a law will be tightened to prohibit workplace bullying.
You're right. A new law came into effect last month to prevent harassment in the workplace. Now, company owners have the duty to prevent and stop bullying among workers because employees can officially file a complaint if they've experienced bullying.
If workers incur physical or mental suffering to other employees using their superior status or power, they can be reported to the company's owners.
Once the case is reported, employers must immediately launch an investigation and ..