금강산국제관광특구와 라선경제무역지대 노동복지 비교 : 노동규정을 중심으로

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare articles related to labor welfare in the labor regulations of the Mount Kumgang Tourist Zone and the Rason Free Economic Trade Zone and draw implications from the comparison. The study mainly analyzed articles in both regulations concerning ① remuneration for labor, ② labor welfare, and ③ social security. The results of the analysis are as follows: First, as for remuneration for labor, Labour Regulations in the Mount Kumgang Tourist Zone is comparatively superior in terms of ① the standard for setting remuneration, ② types of remuneration, and ③ the authority over and criteria of enacting remuneration, while Labour Regulations for Foreign Funded Enterprises in the Rason Free Economic Trade Zone is comparatively superior in terms of ④ actors to decide minimum wages and ⑤ the payment of remuneration. Next, with regard to labor welfare, Labour Regulations for Foreign Funded Enterprises in the Rason Free Economic Trade Zone is superior in terms of ① working hours and overtime work, whereas both labor regulations show no differences in ② rest at fete days and off days, compensatory rest in case of working at fete days and off days, regular and supplementary leaves, maternity leave, and protection of women employees. Lastly, as for social security, Labour Regulations for Foreign Funded Enterprises in the Rason Free Economic Trade Zone seems to have inherited the former regulation in terms of ① the social and cultural policy fund and the social insurance fee. Since some contents have been added to the latter regulation, however, Labour Regulations for Foreign Funded Enterprises in the Rason Free Economic Trade Zone is relatively a bit superior to the other. Other than that, the two regulations show no differences in terms of ② the cultural and welfare fund, retirement subsidy, and living allowance. Considering the concreteness of the rhetoric of the two regulations, or taking the quality-oriented approach, the trend is found to be somewhat different. Despite a relatively short time gap of a year between the two legislations, the later-legislated Labour Regulations for Foreign Funded Enterprises in the Rason Free Economic Trade Zone tends to be more sophisticated than the formerly-legislated Labour Regulations in the Mount Kumgang Tourist Zone. Such changes in regulations that North Korea has shown seem to be occurring little by little with the passage of time. This indicates that North Korea’s self-adjustment function is, in part, operating.