The Central Government and Seoul Metropolitan Government work together to protect the jobs of apartment security guards, as in recent apartment security guards in some apartment complexes are being laid off citing the steep increase of this year's minimum wage. The Central Government supports them with the job stability fund, whereas the Seoul Metropolitan Government exerts efforts to the employment stability and relief of rights and interests of apartment security guards with the provision of free labor and employment counselling and consulting, legal assistance to the lawsuits concerning unfair dismissals and overdue wages.
Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-joo and Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said that "they will lead the way to make minimum wage take root and to protect the jobs of apartment security guards" in 'the briefing session on the employment stability and job stability fund for apartment security guards' held on Feb. 5 at the Seongbuk District Office in which Seongbuk Ward Mayor Kim Young-bae and some 200 apartment residents' representatives and security service suppliers participated.
The Central Government will exert efforts to take root the job stability fund which subsidizes part of minimum wage increase. A subsidy up to 130,000 won(US$ 118) per head will be granted to the the apartment residents councils which directly hire security guards or security service suppliers when the wages of security guards do not exceed 1.9 million won(US$ 1,732) per month.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government provides free labor and employment counselling and consulting through the Seoul Labor Center and other labor welfare centers in 8 autonomous districts run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Relief counselling services on unfair labor practices are provided to security guards and legal assistance to the lawsuits is offered through the basic and in-depth counselling in case of unfair dismissals. Customized consulting on labor management skills is provided to apartment residents councils and security service suppliers. From Jan. 24 this year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been operating 'a special measures team for the job stability of apartment security guards' which comprises public employees, labor attorneys, lawyers and residents council representatives.
reported by Bae Hye-jung
translated by Kim Sung-jin