Jeonnam Labor Relations Commission: "Disciplinary Actions Without Opportunity to Explain and Clear Reasons Are Unfair"

Two Employees of Gwangsan-gu Facility Management Corporation in Gwangju Unfairly Disciplined with Suspension

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Jeonnam Regional Labor Relations Commission judged that disciplinary actions of suspension without an opportunity to present a defense and without clear reasons were unfair.

On the 23rd, according to the Gwangsan-gu Facilities Management Corporation in Gwangju Metropolitan City, the Jeonnam Labor Relations Commission sided with the applicants, employees of the corporation, regarding their claims of unfair work exclusion, standby orders, and unfair suspension relief requests.

Last year, the Gwangsan-gu Audit Office conducted a special audit and detected about 30 illegal and unfair matters involving Director A, demanding personnel actions from the corporation.

In this process, a special audit was conducted three months after a comprehensive audit, and Team Leader B, who was identified as responsible for leaking a private conversation recording to the media, was also disciplined.

A and B received suspensions of five months and two months respectively. They were also subjected to work exclusion and standby orders.

They claimed before the Labor Relations Commission that they were not given a substantial opportunity to present a defense, were not notified of the exact reasons for the disciplinary actions, and that the suspension periods did not comply with the corporation’s regulations, which stipulate suspensions of three months or less.

The Jeonnam Labor Relations Commission's adjudication committee judged the disciplinary actions to be unfair.

However, considering the situation at the time when the police were investigating the unfair hiring allegations reported by the former Audit Office, the work exclusion and standby orders against A were deemed appropriate. A was recently cleared of charges in the police investigation.

Once the official delivery of this Jeonnam Labor Relations Commission ruling is made, A will enter the personnel procedure for reinstatement, but since the corporation appointed a replacement during A’s work exclusion period, difficulties are expected.

Gwangsan-gu is reportedly planning to seek a judgment from the Central Labor Relations Commission regarding this Jeonnam Labor Relations Commission ruling.