The Government-wide 'Public Service Workers Committee' Established... Discussing Wages and Treatment of Workers Transitioning to Regular Positions

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] A pan-governmental 'Public Service Workers Committee' will be established to deliberate on workforce management plans, wages, and treatment for public sector workers who have been converted from non-regular to regular positions.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that the "Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the Public Service Workers Committee (Prime Minister's Directive)" containing these provisions will take effect from the 27th.

The Prime Minister's Directive includes the basis for establishing a pan-governmental Public Service Workers Committee to comprehensively coordinate and manage personnel and labor management for approximately 480,000 indefinite-term contract workers and fixed-term workers employed in public institutions and other public sectors.

According to the 2018 Public Sector Survey, the number of public service workers reached 482,000. Among them, 313,000 are indefinite-term contract workers, and 169,000 are fixed-term workers.

Until now, the government has actively promoted policies to convert non-regular workers in the public sector to regular positions. However, there were limitations in presenting unified and consistent standards because wages, treatment, and personnel and labor management criteria for workers converted to regular positions varied by institution and job type.

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Accordingly, a pan-governmental deliberative body related to public service workers will be established, centered on the Ministry of Employment and Labor, with participation from relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The Public Service Workers Committee will address matters concerning public service workers, including ▲ basic directions and mid- to long-term plans for workforce operation and management ▲ personnel and labor management standards ▲ wages and treatment.

The committee will be chaired by the Minister of Employment and Labor and composed of about 15 members, including five vice-minister-level officials from related ministries and experts.

To gather opinions from labor groups, relevant experts, and administrative agencies and to suggest policy directions related to the committee's work, a Development Council will be established.

Additionally, a planning team will be set up to support the operation of meetings such as the Public Service Workers Committee and the Development Council, as well as to assist in preparing government policies related to public service workers.

Minister Lee Jae-gap, chair of the Public Service Workers Committee, stated, "A forum has been established to conduct more in-depth and systematic discussions regarding public service workers following their conversion to regular positions. For the committee to achieve meaningful results, the consultation system with labor groups through the Development Council must operate smoothly. We will continue to engage in dialogue and communication with labor groups."

The Public Service Workers Committee plans to hold its first plenary session soon to systematically discuss policies related to public service workers.

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