Labor Ministry Opposed to Mr. Roh`s Policy on Irregular Workers

A lot of difficulties are expected in the process of mapping out and pushing for labor policies under the incoming government as the Ministry of Labor, President-elect Roh`s transition team, the labor world, and the business world showed wide differences over their labor policies.

In its report to the transition team on issues such as irregular workers, foreign workers and the tripartite commission comprised of labor, management and government, the labor ministry said that it is difficult in reality to force the enforcement of "the same wage for the same labor" through law and institution.

The labor ministry`s position runs counter to that of Mr. Roh, who is considering the principle, "the same wage for the same labor" based on his campaign pledge to eradicate discrimination against irregular workers.

Earlier in its announcement on Jan. 7 on the incoming government`s 10 priorities in national administration, the presidential transition committee defined discrimination against irregular workers as one of five discriminations, along with discriminations against women, the disabled, those with low educational background, and foreign workers and promised to work out measures to eradicate discriminations.

There are indications that Mr. Roh`s campaign promise on "the same treatment in wage and working conditions for both regular and irregular workers" reached a deadlock because of the opposition from the labor ministry, but in the first place Mr. Roh made an almost impossible promise.

The nation`s two major union organizations, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, criticized in their statements that in its opposition to applying the same wages to the same labor, the labor ministry is typical of conservative government officials who detest change.

Meanwhile, the business world has been against the "the-same-wage-for-the-same-labor principle saying, "In a situation where it is not easy to fire regular workers, to treat irregular workers like regular ones will lead to a decrease in corporate competition because of increasing labor cost burdens."

The labor ministry has prepared an obligation rule for company owners to make efforts to give a fair treatment to irregular workers and mapped out measures to limit dismissal of contract workers within three years and enlarge the scope of jobs where dispatched workers can work.

The ministry also showed its difference from the transition committee, saying that the tripartite commission comprised of labor, management and government should be reduced.

In addition, the ministry has decided to enact a special law in order to reduce manpower shortages in small- and medium-sized companies; to introduce the work permit system for foreign workers starting 2004; and to prepare measures to guarantee basic labor rights to public officials to the level of those of the national teachers` trade union, while proceeding the bill on public servants` trade union which was already introduced.

When it comes to the five-day workweek, the ministry suggested that the bill should be passed though an extraordinary National Assembly session before the inauguration of the new government.

Jin Lee leej@donga.com