NHIS Rekindles 'Labor-Labor Conflict'... Union Chairman Faces Impeachment Crisis

Controversy Over Customer Center Regular Employee Conversion Continues
Impeachment Vote for Chairman to Be Held on the 23rd

Issue of Recruiting New Outsourcing Company for Customer Center Also Emerges

In July of last year, a "Rally Urging Direct Employment of Non-Regular Workers" was held at the sit-in site in front of the National Health Insurance Service in Wonju, Gangwon Province.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Controversy surrounding the direct employment conversion of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) Customer Center is reigniting. While the chairman of the NHIS labor union faces impeachment, disputes continue over the formation of a tripartite consultative body (labor, management, experts) and the extension of contracts with consignment companies.

According to NHIS on the 16th, the NHIS labor union will hold a vote on the 23rd to impeach Chairman Jeon. The ‘labor-labor (노노) conflict’ that arose over the conversion of the customer center to regular positions is flaring up again.

Inside the organization, intense debates have been ongoing both inside and outside NHIS regarding the regular employment conversion of the customer center, with the ‘Fair Value Solidarity’ group being formed mainly by MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z) employees. In August last year, 1,499 MZ generation members requested an extraordinary general meeting of the NHIS labor union with key agenda items including withdrawal from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and a vote of no confidence in the union chairman and executive committee, but it was ultimately canceled.

However, with the proportion of MZ generation employees within NHIS recently exceeding 50%, and conflicts within the union executive committee adding to the situation, the possibility of impeachment this time is considered high. The vice chairman, who led the union alongside Chairman Jeon, resigned at the end of last year citing the chairman’s autocratic management. Furthermore, 12 out of 13 union headquarters nationwide issued statements urging the chairman to voluntarily resign, indicating serious internal tensions. A staff member in their 30s, Choi, said, "There is strong criticism that the current union executive committee failed to properly voice concerns during the customer center’s direct employment conversion process," adding, "Employees are already treating the impeachment as a foregone conclusion."

If the turmoil continues, it could affect the resolution of the NHIS customer center issue, which had been settled through an agreement on conversion to regular positions within affiliated institutions. The tripartite consultative body (total 15 members) that must be formed for the affiliated institution conversion should include NHIS labor union representatives as workers belonging to the NHIS. However, an NHIS official explained, "The chairman’s duties have already been suspended due to the impeachment proposal, and an acting system has been put in place," adding, "This will not affect the formation of the tripartite consultative body."

The fact that the existing contract with the consignment company expires at the end of next month, leaving only about a month and a half, is also causing controversy. Recently, NHIS began recruiting companies to newly operate the customer center on a consignment basis starting in April. In protest, the customer center union set up a tent and attempted a sit-in strike in front of the NHIS headquarters on the 7th. An NHIS official said, "Contract extension is not possible according to government standards related to private consignment policies, and it could lead to allegations of favoritism," adding, "Even if the company changes through competitive bidding, employment succession will be ensured, and mid-term contract termination will be possible upon completion of the affiliated institution conversion."

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