A survey of 1,000 South Korean workers has found that nearly three in four believe a key labour provision in the proposed Mega Special Zone Special Act would erode permanent employment across the country's flagship industrial hubs.
Workplace Bullying 119 commissioned polling firm Global Research to survey workers aged 19 and older from 1 to 7 September. 72.1% of respondents agreed with the concern that if the period of use of fixed-term workers is extended to four years, regular jobs will decrease and fixed-term jobs will increase. 27.9% said they did not agree.
The finding relates directly to the "fixed-term 2+2" provision being debated as part of the act. The system would extend the allowable employment period for fixed-term workers from the current two years to an additional two years upon worker agreement. The zones are intended to anchor South Korea's three major megaprojects in semiconductors, AI and robotics.
83.5% of respondents agreed with the concern that extending the period for using fixed-term workers would extend precarious employment by two more years rather than resolving job insecurity. By age, those in their 20s had the highest agreement rate at 87.7%. By region, 89.0% of respondents in the Jeolla region agreed, the highest nationwide.
Opinion was more divided on whether the zones themselves would actually generate jobs. 42.5% said that large-scale investment and deregulation would make a major contribution to job creation, while 37.7% said that because the investment is centred on facilities, jobs would not increase as much as expected.
Workplace Bullying 119 stated that what is needed is not expanding the period of use of fixed-term employment, but establishing the principle of hiring regular employees for routine and ongoing duties.
The fixed-term clause is one of several contested labour provisions in the proposed act. The most prominent is a "white-collar exemption" that would exclude research and development professionals above a certain income threshold from the 52-hour weekly limit. Also under consideration is an extension of the flexible working hours settlement period from one month to six.
The ruling party plans to introduce the Mega Special Zones Special Act within this month. Labour, management and the government have already held an initial introductory meeting for a "one-point social dialogue" to discuss labour deregulation within the act, with full-scale working-level consultations under way.
