(image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, July 14 (Korea Bizwire) — Young workers at major entertainment companies and fashion stylist agencies are facing a labor legislation loophole.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor investigated the working conditions at two major entertainment companies and 10 fashion stylist agencies that have been in business with these companies.
According to the ministry, the entertainment companies committed 12 violations, including a failure to pay 16 million won (US$12,200) in overtime, violating working hours, and failing to conduct education on preventing sexual harassment.
The fashion stylist agencies committed 43 violations, including the failure to sign contracts with fashion assistants and not giving out wage receipts.
“Stylists have to frequently change their shifts to meet the schedules of celebrities and have to come to work every time there is a need. Contracts signed with entertainment companies often do not sufficiently reflect labor costs, which results in a number of labor violations,” the ministry said.
The ministry conducted a survey of road managers and assistant stylists, in which 24.1 percent of managers and 20 percent of assistants said they work more than 52 hours per week.
Managers all signed employment contracts and received wage receipts, but some assistants had not signed employment contracts (20 percent) or received wage receipts (46.7 percent).
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
