Need to Introduce Term Extension for Time-Selected Fixed-Term Public Officials

On the 9th, the Integrated Union and others held a policy forum on measures to resolve income gaps in public servant pensions... Urging activation of discussions to resolve income gaps through social consultative bodies

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] A policy forum to devise measures to resolve the income gap in civil servant pensions was held on the 9th at the 6th-floor conference room of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions. The event was organized by the National Integrated Civil Servants Union (Chairman An Seong-eun), the Civil Servants Union Federation, the Teachers' Labor Union Federation, the Education Office Labor Union Federation, and the Korean Federation of Trade Unions’ Civil Servants and Teachers Committee.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Lee Seong-cheol, Policy Director of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions Civil Servants Headquarters, with Professor Lee Jae-seop of Seoul Theological University serving as the moderator.

Panelists included Yoon Seok-myung, President of the Korean Pension Society; Jung Jae-cheol, Director of the Seoul Public Health Medical Foundation; Shin Sung-sik, welfare specialist reporter at JoongAng Ilbo; and Kim Hae-young, Policy Chairman of the Integrated Union.

This policy forum was organized to address the income gap issue that began to materialize starting next year, 2022, for retired civil servants following the 2015 amendment of the Civil Servant Pension Act, and to explore solutions to this problem.

The forum, which was also broadcast via YouTube and Zoom, attracted attention as staff from the Ministry of Personnel Management, the main government agency in charge, attended to observe the proceedings.

In his keynote presentation, Policy Director Lee Seong-cheol emphasized, “Resolving the income gap caused by the difference between the retirement age of civil servants and the pension payment start age is urgent,” and advocated for “the necessity of solving the income gap issue through extending the retirement age.”

He particularly reviewed cases and legal grounds for extending the retirement age of civil servants in major European and Asian countries as well as Japan, highlighting that in most countries the retirement age and pension payment start age for civil servants coincide. He then examined recent proposals for extending the retirement age of civil servants, pointing out that each option has its pros and cons, making the choice difficult.

The presenter noted that President Moon Jae-in, during the 2020 Ministry of Employment and Labor work report, stated, “It is time to seriously consider employment extension,” and “This created an opportunity to shift the retirement age extension issue to employment extension discussions in our society,” adding, “There is no reason why employment extension discussions taking place in the private sector should not apply to civil servants as well.”

Regarding specific measures for extending civil servant employment, he proposed an employment extension plan through the ‘time-selective fixed-term civil servant system,’ which best fits the purpose of reemployment during the income gap period.

He stressed, “From now on, the government should promptly establish a social consultative body to discuss civil servant employment extension and prepare alternatives for civil servants facing income gaps,” emphasizing, “Our society is facing an overall super-aged society, and it is time to seriously consider employment extension.” He particularly urged the government to take an active role, stating, “If the government, as a model employer, takes the lead in preparing employment extension measures for civil servants, discussions on employment extension in the private sector will also be revitalized.”

Following the presentation, discussants generally agreed on the necessity of discussing the income gap issue but expressed that solutions should be proposed in a way that the public can empathize with.

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