Establishing Cooperation Model for 150 Apartment Complexes... Supporting Employment Stability and Labor Environment Improvement
30 Exemplary Labor-Management Harmony Apartments Selected... Promoting Mutual Respect Culture Between Residents and Workers
Labor-Management-Government Council Decides 1.4% Increase in Living Wage Next Year... Strengthening Functions for a New Start
Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) is strengthening labor-management-civil-government cooperation to create a safe and warm working environment. By fostering win-win cooperation with 150 apartment complexes, it aims to spread a culture of coexistence between apartment residents and workers, raise the living wage, and expand the protection of vulnerable labor groups’ rights, thereby supporting the development of the local economy and labor relations.
Joint Declaration of Mutual Cooperation for Apartment Complex Management Workers Announced. Provided by Goyang City
On the 29th of last month, Goyang City held a win-win cooperation declaration ceremony to guarantee the basic labor rights of apartment management workers. About 200 people attended the ceremony, including Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, representatives from resident councils of 150 apartment complexes, apartment management workers, and the Goyang branch of the Korea Housing Managers Association, coming together to create “Happy Apartment Communities.”
The majority of apartment management workers, such as security guards, facility managers, and cleaners, suffer from employment insecurity due to short-term contracts of less than one year, including ultra-short-term contracts renewed every three months. In particular, a 2022 survey conducted by Gyeonggi Province targeting 1,611 complexes in 11 cities and counties revealed that 49.9% of apartment security workers had contracts of six months or less.
At the declaration ceremony, the apartment resident councils promised to work towards improving the labor environment without employment insecurity for apartment management workers, while the workers pledged to create an environment where residents can live safely and comfortably. Goyang City also committed to actively supporting and cooperating to ensure the labor rights of apartment management workers are protected.
Declaration Ceremony for Win-Win Cooperation of Apartment Management Workers. Provided by Goyang City
Joo Deok-joo, a representative of security workers who attended the event, said, “Sometimes it’s hard when we are not respected, but a warm word from residents like ‘Thank you for your hard work’ comforts me.” He added, “I hope this win-win cooperation declaration ceremony will be the first step toward improving the perception of apartment workers and securing employment.”
Starting with this win-win cooperation declaration, the city plans to investigate whether participating complexes maintain employment and improve labor conditions, and consider providing incentives to complexes that make efforts to secure employment by signing contracts longer than one year, to establish a culture of mutual respect in apartment communities.
During the event, the city awarded commendations from the Mayor of Goyang to four exemplary win-win labor-management apartment complexes. This year, the selected complexes were ▲ Sinwon Village Complex 4 ▲ Haetbit Village Complex 20 ▲ Hosu Village Complex 5 ▲ Gajwa Village Complex 1. The Goyang City Labor Rights Center also delivered winter supplies to help apartment management workers have a warm winter.
The exemplary win-win labor-management apartment complexes are those that contribute to coexistence and harmonious development by maintaining employment and improving working conditions for apartment management workers. The Goyang City Labor Rights Center conducts surveys and a selection committee to choose complexes based on factors such as ▲ efforts to maintain employment compared to the previous year ▲ installation of rest areas for apartment management workers and other working condition improvements ▲ activities to raise residents’ participation awareness ▲ and community activation for labor-management communication.
Since 2018, 30 complexes have received commendations and plaques as exemplary win-win labor-management apartment complexes. The city plans to continue selecting exemplary complexes to spread best practices and provide cultural activity opportunities to the selected apartment management workers.
Goyang City operates a labor-management-civil-government council, which includes representatives of workers, employers, citizens, experts, and the government, to deliberate on matters necessary for the development of the local economy and labor relations.
At the council meeting held in August, the living wage for Goyang City next year was decided to be 11,020 won, a 1.4% increase from this year’s 10,870 won. The living wage is determined considering the minimum wage, inflation rate, household expenditures, and other factors to ensure workers can maintain a practical standard of living. Next year’s living wage is 9.9% higher than the government’s minimum wage of 10,030 won.
The 7th Goyang City Labor-Management-Civil-Government Council, formed for the second time during the 8th elected term, began activities last month. Its functions were strengthened to deliberate on the protection of rights for emotional laborers and non-regular workers, and the number of members increased from 11 to 16, including experts in emotional labor and non-regular worker fields, as well as representatives from various sectors.
Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, reading the Joint Declaration for Win-Win Cooperation of Apartment Complex Management Workers. Photo by Goyang City
Meanwhile, Goyang City operates 24-hour rest areas for mobile workers such as delivery and courier drivers and substitute drivers at Hwajeong Culture Plaza and Janghang 2nd Public Parking Lot. It is also conducting projects to improve rest facilities for field workers, improve accommodations for migrant workers, and provide paid sick leave. Detailed support information can be found on the websites of Goyang City and the Goyang City Labor Rights Center.
Lee Dong-hwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, said, “In difficult times, we must reaffirm the values of cooperation and coexistence and move beyond conflict and confrontation to build a better tomorrow in relationships based on mutual respect. We will take a step forward toward a better and more worker-friendly Goyang City.”
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