Labor and civic groups call for full application of the Labor Standards Act

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Cho Hyun-young = Labor and civic groups called for the Labor Standards Act to be applied to all workers without exception.

The joint struggle for non-regular workers, together with groups such as the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, the Labor Committee, and Workplace Gapjil 119, held a 'Workers' March Outside Labor Law' rally in front of the Seoul Employment and Labor Office in Jung-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 12th.

They pointed out that special employment, platform workers, freelancers, workplaces with less than five employees, ultra-short-time workers, and migrant workers are not receiving full protection from the Labor Standards Act.

Kim Joo-hwan, the co-convener of the joint struggle for non-regular workers, emphasized, "The government says it protects workers, but is trying to roll back labor rights, such as expanding dispatch and extending fixed-term contracts, by using mega special zones and mega projects. The starting point should be to recognize people who work as workers and fully apply the Labor Standards Act to all workers."

Jang Jong-su, chairman of the Workplace Gapjil 119 Online Labor Union, also said, “The Labor Standards Act’s regulations on dismissal restrictions, applications for dismissal relief, and shutdown allowances do not apply to workplaces with fewer than five employees. Approximately 3.7 million workers are working with little rest, earning less, and putting up with harassment.”

After the rally, participants marched to the Blue House Sarangchae.

The organization announced that it would carry out targeted action on irregular workers every month, starting with the rally on this day.