Human Rights Commission: "Separating Job Categories and Wage Differentiation for Workers Performing Similar Tasks Constitutes Discrimination"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] The National Human Rights Commission has ruled that separating workers performing similar tasks into different job categories and treating them differently in terms of wages constitutes discrimination.

On the 29th, the Human Rights Commission recommended that the chairman of Foundation A integrate workers performing similar tasks within the institution's professional and general positions into the general position category, readjust their ranks appropriately, and take measures to eliminate wage discrimination.

The petitioners initially joined the foundation as contract workers and were later converted to regular employees. Although they perform similar tasks as general workers, they were transferred to professional positions and have been subjected to unreasonable discrimination in rank and wages, prompting them to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission requesting corrective action.

The chairman of Foundation A stated, "During the process of converting the petitioners from contract to regular employees, a separate job category was created, along with a distinct rank system and salary standards. We provided prior explanations about the treatment to the individuals, and they applied and were hired by their own choice. We are also facing difficulties in securing related budgets."

The Human Rights Commission's Discrimination Correction Committee pointed out, "There is no significant distinction in the interchangeability of tasks between the petitioners and general workers within the institution." The experts who advised on the labor-management consultation process for improving the petitioners' treatment also acknowledged that both job categories perform the same tasks. The committee further judged that "creating a new job category and incorporating the petitioners into it during their conversion to regular employees constitutes discrimination by treating essentially the same work differently."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.