노조법상 근로자 개념에 대한 재검토

Abstract

Concept of a worker is the starting point and key connection point for application of Labor Law. It also serves as the important criteria for defining the characteristics and extension of Labor Law. In other words, as the applicability of Labor Law is directly related to the status of “Worker”, defining the conceptual boundary is the crucial task in both theoretical and practical aspects. The issues related to the concept of worker have been controversial not only in South Korea but also in major foreign countries for a long time. The present Constitution has regulations on the fundamental labor rights and uses the term “Worker” (Paragraph 1 of Article 32, Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 3 of Article 33 of Constitution). Still, it does not clarify the meaning of “Worker”. After all, it is necessary to examine the regulations on definition of worker in Labor Relations Act enacted based on the regulations of fundamental labor rights in the Constitution in details. The regulation on definition of “Worker” differ in Labor Standards Act, which is the fundamental act for Individual Labor Relations Act, and Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, which is the fundamental act for Collective Labor-Management Relations Act. While Labor Standards Act defines “Worker” as “A person who provides the labor service to the business or workplace under the purpose of wage regardless of type of occupation” (Sub-Paragraph 1, Paragraph 1, Article 2 of Labor Standards Act), Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act defines “Worker” as “A person who make a living on wage, pay, or other equivalent income regardless of type of occupation” (Sub-Paragraph 1, Article 2 of Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. There is ongoing controversy on how to understand and interpret the concept of worker in accordance with Labor Standards Act and Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. Recently, the Supreme Court reorganized the standards to determine the concept of worker under Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act in so-called “Ruling on Home-Visit Teacher” and tried to differentiate the concept of worker from Labor Standards Act. Also, the series of subsequent rulings granted the status of worker not only to the existing temporary unemployed person and job seeker but also to workers who are employed under the contractual relationship different from the labor contractual relationship under Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. This once gain sparked off the controversies over the concept of worker under Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. However, in regard to interpretation of concept of worker under the present Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, following points shall be mainly considered. Article 33 of the Constitution regulates three labor rights of the worker and uses the term, “Worker”. As the Constitution does not define the concept of worker, the subordinate acts are consigned to define the concept of worker in details. Therefore, in the teleological aspect for defining the worker under Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, it is important to guarantee the 3 labor rights. This concept is essential to define who is eligible to establish or join the labor union, to guarantee collective bargaining right and collective action right, and to confirm attribution of performance. Thus, the concept of worker under Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act shall be defined accordance with the purpose of guaranteeing the three labor rights in Article 33 of Constitution and purpose of protection in Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. Article 33 of Constitution needs to clarify that three labor rights are guaranteed to the one involved in subordinate labor so that the labor and management are able to determine the labor conditions based on the collective private autonomy for the purpose of enhancing the labor conditions. For new type of workers providing labor service, it is also necessary to seek protective measures under the Labor Law in the aspect of legislative policy.