193,000 Non-Regular Workers in the Public Sector Transition to Regular Positions... "Monthly Wage Increase of 200,000 Won+"

Announcement of 2.5-Year Public Sector Regular Employment Conversion Results
Achieved 94.2% of 2020 Plan Target
Ministry of Employment: "Monthly Wage Increase Effect of 200,000 KRW Occurred"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] As of last year, a total of 193,000 non-regular workers in the public sector have been decided to be converted to regular positions. It was also found that the conversion to regular positions resulted in a wage increase effect of about 200,000 KRW per month.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 3rd that as of the end of December last year, 193,000 non-regular workers in the public sector were decided to be converted to regular positions. This is the result of promoting the conversion to regular positions for two and a half years since the government announced the public sector regular position conversion guidelines in July 2017.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor stated that 94.2% of the plan for converting 205,000 workers to regular positions by this year has been achieved.

Among those decided for conversion to regular positions, 174,000 (90%) have completed the conversion. The remaining approximately 20,000 will be sequentially converted to regular positions once the existing service contracts expire or recruitment procedures are completed.

The method of conversion to regular positions was autonomously decided by each institution through discussions at labor-management expert councils, considering organizational size and job characteristics.

Of those converted to regular positions, 75.9% (132,000) were directly employed by the institutions, and 0.5% (1,000) were converted through third-sector methods such as social enterprises and cooperatives.

The number converted through the subsidiary method was 41,000, accounting for 23.6% of those who completed conversion. A total of 57 institutions, including 54 public institutions and 3 local public enterprises, chose the subsidiary establishment method.

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The Ministry of Employment and Labor is applying a 'desirable subsidiary establishment and operation model' to ensure that subsidiaries grow into organizations with job expertise, independence, and stability, and can continuously promote employment stability and improved treatment for workers.

An official from the Ministry of Employment and Labor said, "There are criticisms that subsidiaries do not differ significantly from existing service providers in terms of job insecurity and treatment," adding, "We plan to continuously guide and manage subsidiaries so that they grow into organizations with job expertise, independence, and stability."

From September to October last year, unfair and unjust contracts with subsidiaries were intensively inspected, and in the first half of this year, an operational survey of subsidiaries will be conducted to prepare improvement measures necessary for implementing the 'desirable subsidiary establishment and operation model.'

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the conversion to regular positions resulted in a wage increase effect of about 200,000 KRW per month.

This is the result of providing welfare benefits such as holiday allowance (800,000 KRW annually), meal allowance (130,000 KRW monthly), and welfare points (400,000 KRW annually) without discrimination compared to existing regular workers.

According to a survey conducted by the Korea Labor Institute in May last year targeting 1,815 workers converted to regular positions, the average annual wage increased by 3.91 million KRW (16.3%) compared to before conversion.

Deputy Minister Lim Seo-jung of the Ministry of Employment and Labor stated, "Based on the achievements of public sector regular position conversion over the past two and a half years, we will actively support related ministries' cooperation, expert consulting, and on-site support for some institutions that have not yet completed conversion or are experiencing conflicts."

He added, "We are promoting the establishment of the 'Public Sector Civil Service Committee' on a government-wide basis to support systematic personnel and labor management and treatment improvement for those converted to regular positions."

The performance of regular position conversion by institution disclosed this time can be checked in the 'Public Sector Non-Regular Employment Improvement System.'

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