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Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Republic of Korea (RATIFICATION: 1997)

The Committee notes the observations of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) received on 2 October 2015 and the Government’s response thereto.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report and that the Government continues to regularly supply data and statistics on the economically active population, employment and underemployment, census data and methodological information to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through its website (ILOSTAT). The latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) figures relate to 2014, while the 18th quinquennial Population Census and tenth housing census were conducted in 2010. The Committee requests that the Government continue to supply data and information on the methodology used in the application of these provisions. It also invites the Government to provide information on any plans for conducting the next population census. Please also include information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Articles 9, 10, 11, 12 and 15. Statistics compiled pursuant to the Convention. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on consumer price indices (Article 12), including information on concepts, coverage, classification, methodology and publication. It also notes that statistics on strikes (Article 15) derived from administrative records are regularly submitted to the ILO Department of Statistics through the corresponding chapter of its annual questionnaire on labour statistics. The Committee notes, however, that the report does not contain information on the application of Articles 9, 10 and 11. In particular, the Government’s report contains no indication that statistics on occupational monthly wage rates and earnings and weekly normal hours of work (Article 9(2)) continue to be compiled. The Committee therefore requests that the Government provide updated information on the application of all accepted Articles of the Convention. Please communicate the requested information to the ILO, including descriptions of the sources, concepts, definitions and methodology used in collecting and compiling the statistics (Articles 5 and 6).

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries and diseases. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government’s report provides information on the procedures used to compile statistics of occupational injuries and diseases. In this regard, the FKTU indicates that a July 2014 amendment to Section 4 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act lowered the threshold for compilation of such statistics from four to three or more days of absence from work. The FKTU also indicates that there are no official statistics on the cover-up of industrial accidents. In its response to the FKTU’s observations, the Government indicates that it will take some time to fully implement the new system to report the occurrence of industrial accidents at the workplace, and that statistics are still being collected based on four or more days of medical care. Statistics on industrial accidents resulting in a “temporary disability of more than three days” will be compiled on a pilot basis in 2016 and statistics based on this modified criteria will be officially collected and published beginning in 2017. The Government further indicates that there are no official statistics on cover-up of industrial accidents published internationally and that it is difficult to estimate the total number of violations of the law given that it is not feasible to inspect every workplace. The Committee requests that the Government continue to supply up-to-date statistics of occupational injuries and diseases and that it provide further information on the impact of the legislative changes to the procedures for compiling these statistics.