Temporary Workers Period to Be Extended to 3-4 Years

Companies will be allowed to employ temporary workers for up to three to four years without changing their work status from July 1 next year.

Under the Non-regular Worker Protection Act, employers must give regular status to temporary workers who have worked for at least two years.

The government will submit a law revision to the National Assembly before year’s end, according to the Strategy and Finance Ministry and the Labor Ministry.

“Fears are growing that the two-year limitation is driving companies to dismiss temporary workers,” a government official said. “The final decision will be made by the Economic and Social Development Commission, but the consensus is that the limit should be extended to four years, or at least three years.”

The government is moving quickly to revise the law to prevent massive layoffs of non-regular workers that is expected to begin early next year due to a slowdown in the real economy.

The disputed law took effect in July last year. Many employers are expected not to grant permanent status to temporary workers who will have worked for two years by July next year.

Worse, certain companies will probably not renew contracts with non-regular workers whose contracts expire before July next year to get around the law.

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