Labor inspector’s ‘gapjil’ chopping… “Coercion and Procrastination” (CG)▶ Click here for a larger view
“I filed a complaint with the Employment and Labor Administration because of the continued increase in wages. I delivered the amount that was not calculated according to the previous daily rate to the connected labor inspector, but the daily wage was underestimated without consultation. They blocked me from contacting me without telling me.”
“I filed a complaint about sexual harassment at work, and the labor inspector at first asked if there was any evidence. ‘There is no evidence, but there are witnesses who can state the situation at the time.’ He has always been skeptical and has asked for a genuine withdrawal. In the end, the argument ended without even being able to properly argue.”
These are the cases published in the report ‘Second offenses of office workers, the current situation of labor inspectors and alternatives’ released by the civil group Gapjil 119 on the 5th. With the support of the Beautiful Foundation, this group analyzed 179 reports of ‘labor supervisor’s abuse’ received from January of last year to June of this year.
Among the cases, 73 cases (40.8%) were ‘delayed processing’, which exceeded the filing period due to regulations. Then there were 59 cases (33%) of ‘unfaithful investigation’ such as failing to calculate the amount of arrears, 31 cases (17.3%) of ‘inappropriate remarks’ such as reprimanding the complainant, and 16 cases of encouraging agreement or withdrawal with the complainant ( 8.9%).
“Labor inspectors are special judicial police officers who can perform police duties related to 16 labor-related laws in accordance with the Labor Standards Act,” said Workplace Gapjil119. We have to play the role of a police officer who conducts a sincere investigation and handles it strictly.”
The group pointed out that although the number of labor inspectors has increased recently, the delay in handling cases is still there. According to data obtained through the office of Ahn Ho-young of the Democratic Party of Korea, which is affiliated with the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly, the number of labor inspectors increased by 57.4% (883) from 1,538 as of the end of 2016 to 2,421 as of July 1 of this year. .
The average number of cases received per labor inspector decreased 36.8% (113 cases) from 307 cases in 2016 to 194 cases in 2020. However, the average number of days to handle cases decreased only 12.9% (6.2 days) from 48.1 days in 2016 to 41.9 days in the first half of 2021.
As a way to improve labor inspectors’ abuse, the organization proposed a complete overhaul of the system, such as strengthening the professionalism of labor inspectors, establishing the principle of expedited processing, activating the evasion system of labor inspectors, expanding special labor inspections, and revitalizing labor inspection petitions.
Labor Attorney Lim Hye-in said, “Workers go to the Labor Office in hopes of relieving infringed rights and recovering human rights, but they are getting more hurt by the insincere and passive administrative treatment of the labor inspectorate.” There is an urgent need for a comprehensive improvement of the related system,” he said.
Statistics related to the handling of labor inspector cases for the past 6 years[연합뉴스]
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