Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on Tuesday criticizing South Korea’s age-based employment laws and policies, finding that they systematically discriminated against older workers in violation of international human rights standards.
The report cites South Korea’s mandatory retirement ages, regressive wage structures, and re-employment practices as violations of international law. In compiling the report, HRW consulted 41 researchers, union representatives, civil society organizations, nongovernmental organization representatives, one journalist, and interviewed 34 South Korean workers aged 42 to 72 years. Additionally, HRW reviewed current legislation to help illustrate the personal and financial toll that South Korea’s policies have had on older workers. The report findings revealed that both public and private sector employers routinely use age as a key criterion in job postings, hiring decisions, promotions, and mandatory retirement, which disproportionately affects workers over the age of 50. The organization also stated that such practices undermine older workers’ right to work while perpetuating economic insecurity among South Korea’s rapidly aging population.
HRW Senior researcher on the rights of older people Bridget Sleap stated:
South Korea’s laws and policies to protect older workers from age discrimination actually do the exact opposite. They deny older workers the opportunity to continue working in their main jobs, pay them less, and push them into...
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