Staff members worked an average of 13.4 hours every day, for a weekly average of 67.1 hours during the first month of the festival. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Mar. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — The staff at film festivals are exposed to poor working conditions, working an average of 13.4 hours a day and up to 90 hours a week, according to a survey.
The results were based on information provided by 40 staff members of the film industry from last September to November.
The data was analyzed by Youth Community Union (YCU) and the office of the ruling Democratic Party Rep. Lee Yong-deuk.
According to the results of the survey, staff members worked an average of 13.4 hours every day, for a weekly average of 67.1 hours during the first month of the festival.
Among them, 21 reported that they worked 64 hours, the standard working hours for overtime, 17 reported working 68 hours or more per week, and 5 reported working 90 hours or more per week.
“Staff members have different jobs on different teams. But as the festival gets closer, the total work hours increase, and overtime, night shift and holiday work all increase as most festivals lack manpower,” a YCU official said.
It was also pointed out that staff members are not paid properly for their long hours.
There were 30 reports of payment violations, 21 of which involved a complete lack of payment for overtime, and nine of which involved a partial payment.
Labor supervision, which took place from November to December last year, revealed that the Busan International Film Festival, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, the DMZ Documentary Film Festival, and the Jeonju International Film Festival did not pay for overtime, including overtime shifts, night shifts and holiday work.
It is important for the film festival industry to realize that all participants of the festival share responsibilities and rights as a user-laborer relationship is inevitable.
The Korean Film Council has established a system of governance cooperation related to film festivals by supporting staff’s networking activities and operating the system for the film industry in the Economy, Social and Labor Council to improve treatment of the staff members at the festival.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
