Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Republic of Korea (Ratification: 1992)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report for the period ending 31 May 2002, as well as the information supplied in response to its previous comments.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Government reports that, as a result of efforts made to promote industrial restructuring, the economy has made progress towards the objective of full recovery. Unemployment decreased from 4.1 per cent in 2000 to 2.7 per cent in June 2002. The participation rate increased from 60.7 per cent in 2000 to 62.2 per cent in June 2002. Female employment has also increased, going from 41.1 per cent in 1985 to 48.8 per cent in 2001. The Government states that its commitment to employment promotion is manifested by the implementation of a range of programmes and measures which include, inter alia, vocational training and apprenticeships for youth, employment support for the disabled, employment support for older workers and measures promoting women’s employment. The Committee would appreciate being kept informed of the success of these policies and programmes in fulfilling the objectives of the Convention of full, productive and freely chosen employment.

2. The Committee notes the information provided on measures for promoting employment among particular groups of jobseekers, including the following:

-  increasing opportunities for women through development and improvement of vocational ability and reinforcement of welfare provisions with a view to securing equal opportunity and treatment for men and women and facilitating easier adjustment to the occupation in the employment;

-  providing employment information and vocational guidance services for youth, such as job counselling, and opportunities of vocational training to enable them to choose jobs suitable to their aptitude. The youth work experience programme was introduced in 2002 and has since been implemented to provide support for youth career building and ability development in response to a new employment pattern in which employers prefer to hire experienced workers. Around 40,000 young people participated in the 2002 work experience programme;

-  finding jobs suitable for older workers, expanding opportunities for their vocational ability development, providing relevant employment information and taking other necessary measures. Currently there are 168 employment security centres, 36 manpower banks for older workers and one manpower information centre for the highly skilled that provide job placement services for older workers. The Government also offers employers subsidies if at least 6 per cent of their monthly average workforce is composed of workers aged 55 or older. Older workers represent up to 15 per cent of the workforce for SMEs and 10 per cent for conglomerates.

The Government also states that it will seek to offer support for the purpose of stabilizing the livelihood of the unemployed, and to prevent general unemployment through the promotion of sound corporate management. Please continue to supply information on the impact of these and other measures set out in the Basic Employment Policy Act on employment promotion. Please also continue to provide information on trends in the quality of employment.

3. The Committee notes that, in accordance with the Government’s recent working hours reform, a number of occupations are to move towards a shorter workweek including the adoption of a two-day weekend and a nationwide reduction in working hours. Cognizant that these policy measures have the potential to significantly impact the level and structure of employment, the Committee would appreciate receiving further information on the implementation of these policy measures, including any evaluation of their effectiveness in carrying out the objectives stated in the Government’s employment policy.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes the information concerning the Employment Policy Council and its affiliated organizations, such as the Special Committee on Employment Policy, the Special Committee on Employment Insurance and the Special Committee on Ability Development. The Committee requests that the Government continue to provide detailed information on the effect given to this important provision of the Convention, by specifying how often the Council and its organizations hold meetings, the issues included in their agendas, the opinions put forward and the way in which these opinions are taken into account.