One in six young platform workers and freelancers is currently not enrolled in employment insurance, according to a recent survey. In response, the government is pushing for the enactment of the 'Basic Law for Workers' by the end of the year to protect the fundamental rights of all workers, regardless of their employment contracts.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that Minister Kim Young-hoon will host an 'Open Mic for Young Freelancers' at the Seoul Employment and Labor Office on October 15, where young freelancers will participate.
This event aims to gather the voices of young freelancers who are not adequately protected by existing labor laws and social insurance systems amid the diversification of work methods due to the rise of AI and platform industries. Nineteen young participants, including representatives from youth organizations such as the Youth Union and the National Youth Policy Network, will attend.
Kim Jong-jin, head of the Working Citizens Research Institute, will present the findings of the labor conditions survey for young freelancers. The survey revealed that only 17.5% of young platform workers and freelancers are enrolled in employment insurance.
The survey also identified unfair trading practices, such as demands for work outside of contracts and delays or reductions in payment. More than 70% of respondents expressed the need for protective laws like the Basic Law for Workers and a dispute resolution support system.
Various challenges were raised during the event. One video editing freelancer shared their experience of working on an event without a contract, only to be left unpaid when the event was canceled midway. Issues regarding the interruption of social insurance records during transitions between employment contracts and freelancer agreements, as well as unclear criteria for recognizing experience, were also highlighted.
The government is working to address these issues by advancing the Basic Law for Workers, which aims to ensure fair contracts, just compensation, and the right to work safely and healthily, regardless of contract type or employment status.
To date, the application of social insurance for labor providers has been expanded to certain occupations. The Ministry began applying employment insurance to 12 job categories, including insurance planners, in July 2021, and has since increased this to 19 categories as of July this year. In July, a legislative proposal was announced to expand the scope of employment insurance for four additional job categories, including cross-recruitment insurance planners and after-school instructors in kindergartens and daycare centers.
However, the current system primarily focuses on specific job categories and requirements, limiting its coverage of various forms of freelance work. The proposed Basic Law is seen as a legislative effort to reduce these protection gaps.
The Ministry plans to promote the introduction of income-based employment insurance and expand the application of the Industrial Safety and Health Act based on the enactment of the Basic Law. Minister Kim Young-hoon stated, 'Even freelancers who work relatively freely should not have to bear the difficulties they face alone. We will enact the Basic Law for Workers by the end of the year to ensure that everyone can work in jobs with basic protections.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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