The proposed amendment aims to protect all workers on special contracts.
A new bill was recently introduced in the National Assembly, which the Korean media dubbed “New Jeans Years Law.”
Representative Jeong Hye Kyung of the Progressive Party held a press conference on November 26, KST, at the National Assembly Communication Building and introduced a partial amendment to the Labor Standards Act aimed at preventing harassment in the workplace, especially for workers with special employment contracts . Speaking about the purpose of the bill, Congressman Jeong stressed that everyone has the right to protection from harassment in the workplace.”regardless of income, employment or contractual relationship”.
This bill came after NewJeans member Hanni appeared at the National Assembly Committee on Environment and Labor’s audit, where she testified about the workplace harassment she allegedly faced. MOVES. But on November 20, the KST, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, closed the case, ruling that Hanni did not qualify as a “worker” under South Korea’s current labor laws and, therefore, her experience it could not be considered “workplace bullying”. “ This ruling has attracted significant criticism from netizens around the world.
Congresswoman Jeong mentioned Hanni in her statement, adding that the new amendment was intended to help countless other workers like her who were not protected due to the current nature of the Labor Standards Act.
Not just Hanni from NewJeans, but there are many people in the workforce who are not protected by this law because the current law only prohibits workplace bullying in employer-employee dynamics.
— Representative Jeong Hye Kyung
Rep. Jeong cited a few examples, mentioning how apartment security workers are often scolded or harassed, often leading to tragic cases of suicide, but because they work under special employment contracts, current workplace harassment prevention laws they are ineffective in such situations.
The new bill makes special provisions for workers and artists and includes mandatory measures for employers to take action in cases of harassment by third parties. The amendment also establishes sanctions for offenders and for employers who do not take adequate measures to prevent harassment in the workplace.
