Seoul Moves to Protect Non-Standard Workers with New Laws

Seoul Moves to Protect Non-Standard Workers with New Laws

The South Korean government and lawmakers recently held a joint discussion to advance new legislative measures aimed at expanding protections for a broad range of workers, including those in non-traditional employment. The Ministry of Employment and Labor, together with National Assembly members, convened a "Package Legislation Discussion for Protecting Workers Outside Standard Rights" on March 31, 2026, at the SME DMC Tower in Seoul.

The meeting focused on two key legislative initiatives: the proposed Basic Law on Workers’ Rights and an amendment to the Labor Standards Act, known as the Worker Presumption System. These proposals seek to create a more universal standard of protection for all working individuals, particularly those not traditionally classified as employees under existing labor laws. The purpose of the discussion was to gather diverse perspectives from the field to inform the ongoing legislative debate in the National Assembly.

Attendees included various workers directly impacted by current legal gaps, such as delivery riders, freelance instructors, and artists. They shared their experiences with challenges like unpaid wages and a lack of social insurance coverage, underscoring the urgent need for a robust institutional safety net. Representatives from labor and management organizations, local labor centers, and experts also participated, offering suggestions for refining the proposed legislation and expressing concerns about its practical implementation.

National Assembly member Kim Joo-young of the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee emphasized that platform workers, freelancers, and small business owners are all "working people" whose critical voices must be considered in the legislative process. Echoing this sentiment, Vice Minister Kwon Chang-jun of the Ministry of Employment and Labor affirmed the clear necessity for a new safety net in an era where diverse employment types and work models are rapidly expanding beyond existing legal frameworks.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to systematically implement various initiatives based on the Basic Law on Workers’ Rights. These include introducing universal employment and industrial accident insurance for all citizens, expanding the application of the Industrial Safety and Health Act to more workers, and strengthening support for small business owners. The Worker Presumption System, for international readers, aims to grant more labor rights to certain independent contractors by presuming them as employees, thereby extending the scope of protection currently enjoyed by traditional employees.

Source: 고용노동부 — Original Article (Korean)