8th Clear Action... Introduced During Gyeonggi Province Governor Term
"Largest Ever Wage Gap Between Regular and Irregular Workers"
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, announced that he would resolve labor market polarization by proposing the 'Fair Allowance for Non-Regular Workers,' which he introduced during his tenure as Governor of Gyeonggi Province, as a campaign pledge.
On the 9th, Lee announced the eighth 'Myeonghwakhaeng (Lee Jae-myung's Certain Happiness)' pledge, the 'Fair Allowance for Non-Regular Workers,' through Facebook. He stated, "The Lee Jae-myung administration will practically improve the lives of non-regular workers based on the achievements of the Gyeonggi Province Fair Allowance for Non-Regular Workers," and added, "We will seek policy alternatives together with the National Assembly, companies, and workers to expand the Fair Allowance for Non-Regular Workers beyond the public sector to the private sector."
The Fair Allowance for Non-Regular Workers was introduced by Lee during his time as Governor of Gyeonggi Province. It is a system that provides higher allowances to non-regular public sector workers in Gyeonggi Province who have shorter periods of employment. He explained, "In the first year of implementation in 2021, we provided differential payments ranging from a minimum of 5% to a maximum of 10% of the base salary to 1,792 non-regular fixed-term workers in Gyeonggi Province," and added, "This year, considering the economic difficulties caused by COVID-19 and the increase in living wages, allowances increased by 5.7% will be paid to 2,085 non-regular workers."
Lee said, "It may be natural that non-regular workers, who are not guaranteed employment stability, receive higher pay than regular workers, but the reality is the exact opposite," and added, "Non-regular workers suffer from overlapping discrimination due to instability and low wages, and the job polarization caused by wage gaps is becoming increasingly severe."
He explained the time when the Fair Allowance for Non-Regular Workers was introduced, saying, "There was opposition. It was against the existing system of 'regular workers = high stability and high wages,' and since it was the first system implemented in Korea, there were many concerns."
He continued, "We cannot just stand by because the lives of non-regular workers do not have the luxury to wait. The COVID-19 crisis posed an even greater threat to non-regular workers who already live unstable lives, and the wage gap between regular and non-regular workers was widening to an unprecedented level."
He added, "Of course, the discriminatory structure in the labor market will not be resolved overnight. However, just as a butterfly's small flap can become a typhoon, I believe that small policy changes can transform the existing practice of 'non-regular workers = instability and low wages' and inspire imagination for greater change."
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