On the 30th, Kang In-seok, Emart's head of support and labor-management cooperation, said regarding allegations of Emart's "sleight-of-hand hiring of contract workers," "As a volatile employment environment has taken shape, we hired fixed-term employees flexibly, and we ask that this be taken into consideration."
At a National Assembly audit held by the Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee (hereafter the Climate and Labor Committee) on the afternoon of the same day, when Rep. Jeong Hye-gyeong of The Progressive Party pointed out the sleight-of-hand hiring of contract workers, Kang, the Deputy Minister, responded, "As the retail industry has grown rapidly, we are in a difficult situation." Emart CEO Han Chae-yang was scheduled to appear as a witness at the session to be questioned about discrimination related to expanding fixed-term employees, but he submitted a written statement explaining his absence citing attendance at APEC, and Kang appeared as a witness in his place.
Under the Act on the Protection, Etc. of Fixed-Term and Part-Time Employees, if a contract employee's period of service exceeds two years, the company must conclude an open-ended (regular) employment contract. In this regard, Rep. Jeong said, "Emart sets six months as the basic contract, then extends it by six months so the worker serves about one year, and instead of renewing the contract immediately, has the worker take a six-month break before renewing," arguing, "This is a 'sleight-of-hand' employment tactic to avoid employing on open-ended contracts under the fixed-term law."
Rep. Jeong also argued that Emart is not only forcing workers to join a specific labor union but is also pressuring them to leave the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). She said so-called "unfair labor practices," in which management dominates or intervenes in union activities—such as an Emart manager paying union dues on behalf of workers—have occurred.
In this regard, Rep. Jeong asked the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL), "The Minister should investigate, through a special labor supervision, both Emart's crafty evasion of the fixed-term law and the unfair labor practices."
Committee Chairperson Ahn Ho-yeong also said, "You fire someone after six months even though they have been working continuously, then rehire them—this practice should be improved, and measures are needed to enable more stable employment," adding, "We need to ascertain the facts regarding acts such as intervening in unions to pressure withdrawals, and prepare countermeasures."
In response, Kang, the Deputy Minister, said, "We will check the facts related to the union and prepare measures."
Meanwhile, some lawmakers expressed regret over CEO Han Chae-yang's absence from the comprehensive audit. Rep. Jeong said, "I express regret that CEO Han did not attend the National Assembly audit," adding, "We requested his attendance to hold him accountable for (the sleight-of-hand hiring and pressuring union withdrawals), but he did not appear to the end."
Chairperson Ahn also said, "If CEO Han had appeared as a witness and spoken, the National Assembly would have regarded it as responsible testimony," adding, "From the Deputy Minister's position, I have doubts as to whether (Rep. Jeong) can properly answer the issues raised."