Most part-time teen workers exploited

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sun, October 1, 2023 | 18:56

Most part-time teen workers exploited

Posted : 2010-11-01 18:49

Updated : 2010-11-01 18:49

By Kang Shin-who

Half of teenagers are paid less than the minimum wage at their part-time jobs, a government survey showed Monday.

Many of them also suffer verbal and physical abuse at work, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said, after surveying 652 teenagers with part-time work experience.

It said 50 percent of the respondents, aged between 15 and 18, responded that they received less than the minimum wage of 4,000 won per hour. About 18 percent said their pay had been delayed or not given to them, and 23 percent were not paid extra for overtime work.

One out of four part-timers worked longer than the legal limit for minors, set at seven hours a day. More than 70 percent said they were able to find work without submitting the legally required parental consent.

Many experienced verbal or even physical abuse from their employers. Eleven percent said they had to endure verbal violence at work, while physical and sexual abuse was committed against 5 percent of them.