"Part-Time Public Official System Must Be Abolished"...Union Submits Policy Proposal to Government

"The Part-Time Public Official Employment System Is a Failed Policy"
"Integrate Into Full-Time Positions to Restore Fairness and Improve Administrative Efficiency"

The National Part-Time Public Officials Labor Union (Chairwoman Jung Sunghye) visited the Government Joint Civil Service Center at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd and submitted a public policy proposal to the National Planning Committee calling for the abolition of the failed part-time employment public official system.

The part-time public official system was introduced in 2014 with the goal of achieving a 70% employment rate, and a total of about 6,500 people were hired. However, as of the end of 2023, only 3,562 remain employed. Approximately 45% have resigned mid-term, revealing the limitations of the system.

Kim Jinsik, Secretary General of the Part-Time Workers Union, Kim Jungguk, Vice Chairman, and Jung Sunghye, Chairwoman (from left), visited the Government Joint Civil Service Center on the 22nd to deliver a "Policy Proposal for the Abolition of the Failed Part-Time Employment Public Official System." Provided by the Part-Time Workers Union.

The union pointed out that although part-time officials perform the same duties, differences in working hours have led to lower pay and promotion restrictions, as well as forced overtime, undermining fairness and equity within the public sector.

According to a survey conducted last year by the union targeting 777 part-time public officials, 66.5% of respondents said they perform the same duties as full-time officials, and 80.2% reported working more than 21 hours of overtime per month, effectively working more than 40 hours a week. In addition, a survey of HR departments in local governments and central administrative agencies found that 77.7% of local governments and 60.4% of central agencies responded that the system has negative impacts, such as lack of administrative continuity, difficulties in assigning positions, and deterioration in the quality of civil service responses, and therefore want the system abolished.

Jung Sunghye, Chairwoman of the Part-Time Workers Union, stated, "A failed system must be abolished, and both those affected and the majority of administrative agencies are calling for its abolition," urging the government to make a responsible decision. The union is demanding the abolition of the part-time public official system, the integration of all current employees into full-time positions, and the use of the 'conversion to part-time official' system for those who wish to reduce their working hours.

Kim Jungguk, Vice Chairman, emphasized, "Since a system for converting full-time public officials to part-time already exists, there is no need to maintain a separate part-time employment system. Now is the time for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Personnel Management to make the decision to abolish the system in order to reduce confusion in the field and enhance fairness and equity within the public sector."