Police officials in Korea will be allowed to form a work council. The Police Reform Committee made a recommendation for the establishment of a work council to guarantee the basic labor rights for police officials and the Korean National Police Agency accepted the proposed recommendation. The Police Reform Committee even took one step forward with a recommendation to allow police officers to form and join a trade union for the long-term task.
The Police Reform Committee held 'an interim reporting session to the people' at the headquarters of the National Police Agency in central Seoul on October 19, two days ahead of the Police Day and announced a recommendation highlighting the institutionalization of human rights police and guarantee of basic labor rights for police officials.
The Police Reform Committee said that 'more than 80 percent of police officials are engaged in the night-shift duties and majority of police officers are working more than the statutory 40 hours per week," and expressed concerns that "the average life expectancy of police officials are markedly shorter compared with those of other vocations due to high workload intensity and poor working conditions." The Committee recommended the formation of a work council, citing that "police officials are not allowed to form a work council which would act as the minimum level of communication channel with the head of the agency and the prohibition led to undermine the morale of police officials."
The Act on the Establishment and Operation of Public Officials' Councils regulates that the scope of public officials in general service in the Class 6 and under can join the councils. Specific public officials like police officials and fire fighters are excluded from the scope of joining councils. Therefore, it is necessary to revise the current Act in order to allow police officers to form a council of their own choice.
The Police Reform Committee set the eligibility limit to join the council with the rank of chief inspector and under. Police officers engaged in investigation are not allowed to join the council due to the matters of political neutrality. If a council is formed, the council can consult with the head of the agency on the matters to improve working conditions and work efficiency and grievance-handling.
Regarding the establishment of trade unions for police officers for the long-term task recommended by the Committee, the National Police Agency said that "we have not reached such a stage to introduce (the freedom of association for police officers) right away, taking into consideration the concerns of people".
reported by Bae Hye-jung
translated by Kim Sung-jin