"Our Union Member Selection"... 148 Violations Including Hiring Abuse by Construction Labor Union Detected

Minister of Employment: "Constant Operation and Frequent Inspection of Unfair Hiring Report Channels"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government uncovered 148 cases of violations of the Fair Hiring Procedure Act during the second half of last year, including requests for personal information unrelated to job duties in the hiring process. It was revealed that unfair hiring practices are widespread, such as labor unions pressuring construction sites to hire union members belonging to their own unions, which was found to be illegal.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor disclosed on the 6th the results of guidance and inspections conducted in the second half of last year to ensure compliance with the "Act on the Fairness of Hiring Procedures" (Fair Hiring Procedure Act).

After inspecting 459 workplaces, the Ministry found 148 violations at 79 sites. Fines were imposed for 23 cases, corrective actions were requested for 6 cases, and 119 cases were guided for improvement.

The reasons for imposing fines included 13 cases of failure by employers to notify the obligation to return hiring documents, 8 cases of requesting personal information unrelated to job duties, and 2 cases of changing working conditions disadvantageously compared to the job announcement.

According to the Fair Hiring Procedure Act, employers must return hiring documents if the job applicant requests them after the hiring decision is finalized, and must inform the applicant of this obligation before the hiring decision is finalized.

The reasons for corrective orders included 4 cases of violating the obligation to destroy hiring documents and 2 cases of requiring applicants to bear screening costs.

Reasons for guidance to improve included 28 cases of failure to notify hiring schedules and 19 cases of failure to notify hiring decisions.

Separately from the 148 cases uncovered during the guidance and inspection process, the Ministry detected 4 criminal coercion charges related to the hiring of tower crane operators at two apartment construction sites based on reports, imposed a fine of 60 million won, and referred the case to the police for investigation.

Minister of Employment and Labor Ahn Kyung-deok said, "If the hiring process is unfair, young people may give up job seeking, and companies may lose opportunities to secure talent," adding, "We will operate a reporting channel for unfair hiring at all times and conduct frequent on-site inspections of vulnerable workplaces."

Regarding coercive hiring practices at construction sites, Minister Ahn stated, "We will thoroughly investigate and respond strictly in cooperation with related ministries."