Issues and Tasks for Extending the Employment of the Elderly in South Korea
Issues and Tasks for Extending the Employment of the Elderly in South Korea
박수경(강원대학교 비교법학연구소)
63권, 241~281쪽
초록
South Korea became a super-aging society in December 2024. The population is rapidly aging, and the working-age population is declining due to the low birth rate. In this context, securing a stable labor force has become a major challenge, and social debates on continuous employment have begun in earnest. However, there is a discrepancy between the current legal retirement age of 60 and the age at which people can receive a pension after retirement. As a result, the promotion of stable employment for older workers in the internal labor market has become increasingly important. This study examines the legal systems and policies related to the employment of older workers, aiming to identify ways to improve Korea’s legal framework for continuous employment. Continuous employment, currently a topic of social dialogue in Korean society, encompasses re-employment and the extension or abolition of the retirement age. This study examines the legal issues and tasks that should be considered when implementing continuous employment, categorizing them into two groups: (1) issues and tasks related to the extension of the retirement age and (2) those pertaining to the re-employment system. The first group includes the necessity of adjusting and reorganizing the wage system and gradually raising the retirement age to facilitate a smooth transition of the system. The second group includes a re-examination of worker treatment, including working conditions and wages; the establishment of a selection structure for the different types of continuous employment; the determination of methods and criteria for selecting re-employment targets; and the transfer of obligations to re-employ to other companies. Discussions regarding the legal and institutional approach to the employment of older workers should not be limited to the Elderly Employment Act alone but should also include debates on labor laws and social security laws and their reform, which are directly and indirectly linked to each other.
Abstract
South Korea became a super-aging society in December 2024. The population is rapidly aging, and the working-age population is declining due to the low birth rate. In this context, securing a stable labor force has become a major challenge, and social debates on continuous employment have begun in earnest. However, there is a discrepancy between the current legal retirement age of 60 and the age at which people can receive a pension after retirement. As a result, the promotion of stable employment for older workers in the internal labor market has become increasingly important. This study examines the legal systems and policies related to the employment of older workers, aiming to identify ways to improve Korea’s legal framework for continuous employment. Continuous employment, currently a topic of social dialogue in Korean society, encompasses re-employment and the extension or abolition of the retirement age. This study examines the legal issues and tasks that should be considered when implementing continuous employment, categorizing them into two groups: (1) issues and tasks related to the extension of the retirement age and (2) those pertaining to the re-employment system. The first group includes the necessity of adjusting and reorganizing the wage system and gradually raising the retirement age to facilitate a smooth transition of the system. The second group includes a re-examination of worker treatment, including working conditions and wages; the establishment of a selection structure for the different types of continuous employment; the determination of methods and criteria for selecting re-employment targets; and the transfer of obligations to re-employ to other companies. Discussions regarding the legal and institutional approach to the employment of older workers should not be limited to the Elderly Employment Act alone but should also include debates on labor laws and social security laws and their reform, which are directly and indirectly linked to each other.
- 발행기관:
- 한국비교노동법학회
- 분류:
- 노동법