Labor : Society : News : The Hankyoreh

As the ruling party, the power of the people, proposes an amendment to the Labor Standards Act which includes the principle of ‘equal pay for work of equal value’ which the labor community has long demanded, the effect is notable. Since Plaid Minjoo, the majority party in the National Assembly, has proposed an amendment with a similar purpose, discussions on the measure could speed up if the ruling and the opposition parties come to a consensus. However, the labor world and the opposition raise questions about the sincerity of the measure by the ruling party while Yoon Seok-yeol’s government has continued to suppress labor for the past year. Looking at the Bills Information System of the National Assembly on the 5th, on the 31st of last month, Representative Kim Hyung-dong, secretary of the Special Committee on Labor Reform of the National Assembly, said, “In order to solve the dual structure of the labor market and ‘the wage gap between regular and irregular workers, and main contractors and subcontractors, the principle of equal pay for equal work is a task that must be realized.” The Act states that “an employer cannot justify differential treatment in terms of working conditions simply because the content of the labor contract between the employees is different” (Article 6, Paragraph 2), or “employers cannot justify differences between employees with types different. employment within the same business.” Equal pay must be guaranteed for work of equal value” (Article 6-2 Paragraph 1). The purpose is ‘if you do the same job, you should receive the same salary’ regardless of the type of employment, the company the employee belongs to, or the status of the contract. In fact, the current Labor Standards Act stipulates that working conditions cannot be discriminated on the basis of nationality, religion, or social status, but the ‘type of employment’ is not specified. Because of this, attention was drawn to the fact that the wage gap between large companies and small and medium enterprises, regular and irregular workers, and main contractors and subcontractors is widening. Representative Kim, who initiated the bill, said in the reason for proposing the bill, “There is discrimination in labor intensity or wages depending on the type of employment, and this does not comply with the spirit set forth in the Constitution Republic of the Republic of Wales. Korea regarding the prohibition of discrimination and labor. ” In a phone call with Representative Kim, he said, “Although there was no official discussion within the National Power, many legislators at the standing committee level have a consensus.” In the strength of the people, while recognizing the necessity of the measure to some extent, they show a cautious attitude. Park Dae-tae, chairman of the Policy Committee, said, “The leadership also sympathizes with the major direction. The direction we need to go is right, but the methodology needs a detailed discussion.” General Secretary Lee Cheol-gyu also said, “I believe that the wrong structure where regular or irregular workers determine the level of wages while doing more and more important work needs to be changed. However, there was no official discussion (within the national power),” he explained. The Democratic Party, which is already promoting a law related to ‘equal pay for equal work’, agrees with the purpose of Congressman Kim’s bill, but does not raise doubts about the true intention. Although the People’s Power Reform Act specifies ‘workers with various types of employment’ as eligible targets and includes dispatched workers, the Democratic Party’s bill incorporates the concept of equal value labor (Rep. Park Kwang-on), or subcontracting, shipment, and service , which are the basic problems of polarization in the labor market ·This is a measure that restricts indirect employment such as dispatch and proceeds to the principle of direct employment (Rep. Kang Byung-won). An official from the Democratic Party’s policy committee said, “It is ultimately a matter of expanding to all industries, but the business world is very opposed, and we need to see if (Gukpower) is willing to persuade such what ” Experts say that the ruling party, which has maintained the stance of preventing labour, has come up with a ‘meaningful bill’. Lee Byeong-hoon, a professor at Chung-Ang University (sociology), said, “The power of the people made an unconventional proposal. It contained the progressive meaning that people in indirect employment are not discriminated against in terms of wages.” Park Eun-jung, a professor at Inje University (law), also evaluated the amendment, saying, “This amendment is meaningful as it addresses issues that cannot be resolved by the Irregular Worker Protection Act or the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. ” The problem is feasibility. In fact, Congressman Kim’s amendment only states that the ‘standard for labor of equal value is the skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions required for job performance’ (Article 6 -2, Paragraph 2). Professor Park pointed out that, “Even if the bill is passed, there will be restrictions on application in the field,” and “there is no penalty rule for discriminatory treatment.” Cho Don-moon, professor of sociology at Catholic University, said, “I am concerned about the part where employers set labor standards for equal value (in the amendment).” It is a concern that employers can unilaterally determine the standard for work of equal value to which equal pay applies. On the other hand, there is also an opinion that it is nothing more than a stopgap work to introduce the job performance pay system promoted by the Yoon Seok-yeol government. Park Joo-young, vice president of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, said, “It may not be just a job-based reorganization, but rather a shift to the job performance-based pay system (which the government has been pushing about her).” In fact, looking at the purpose of Congressman Kim’s proposed amendment, it is written that “it is noted that it is urgent to change from a seniority-based salary system (pay-as-you-go system) to a generational one.” . – a salary earning system based on the type of job and performance.” The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions made an official comment on the day and said, “In conjunction with the ‘introduction and expansion of the job performance-based wage system’ promoted by the Yoon Seok-yeol government, we will cut company wages. higher ranks and lower the general wages.” happening more,” he said.Reporter Kim Hae-jeong sea@hani.co.kr Reporter Seon Dam-eun sun@hani.co.kr Reporter Lee Woo-yeon azar@hani.co. kr