Companies also may pay cash rewards as a special incentive. KIC employees receive 14 days per year in vacation time. At first, North Korean workers were reluctant to ask for leave time, but now they do. Female employees receive 60 days paid maternity leave. Labor costs in Kaesong are approximately 8% of those in a South Korean metropolitan area. South Korean labor laws extend to South Korean workers in the KIC." (Nanto and Manyin, 2008)
It was reported that Unification Ministry officials confirmed in April 2007 that the DPRK had made a request that pay be raised 30% and 10% for members of the North Korean workforce who had graduated from two- and four-year colleges respectively. The two categories comprise approximately 11% each of the workforce of North Korea in the KIC. It is related that wages are paid in dollars to North Korean workers. Additionally the labor law in Article 43 of the Labor Law of the Kaesong Industrial Complex states that "wages must be paid directly to employees in cash." (Nanto and Manyin, 2008) However, according to the DPRK "this is not being implemented now because of the lack of foreign exchange centers in the KIC." (Nanto and Manyin, 2008) According to the ROK Ministry of Unification "...$57.50 minimum monthly salary, $7.50 or 15% of the base pay goes for social insurance (providing for unemployment and occupational hazards). The government also deducts $15 or 30% for a socio-cultural policy fee that goes for rental of state-owned housing, education, medical services, social insurance, and social welfare and reportedly is given to the Kaesong City People's Committee. According to the Ministry, the remaining $35 is paid to the workers in cash (upwards of 5% in North Korean won) or as chits that can be exchanged for daily supplies (food and necessities).32 at the exchange rate of 140 North Korean won per dollar, the $35 translates into 4,900 won. (a kilogram of rice costs about 44 won if bought from North Korea's public distribution system but as much as 1,000 won if bought on the open market. The average family consumes about 60 kilograms of rice per month.) Companies provide the workers with a way to verify their wages by having them sign a ledger or provide a pay slip when they receive their pay." (Nanto and Manyin, 2008)
It was announce by the ROK Ministry of Unification in November 2006: "that it was working with an Australian-South Korean company (Lobana Trading Company) to provide basic necessities to Kaesong. These items are sold primarily at the Kaesong Department Store.34 Since the government distribution system covers only part of a family's needs for items such as rice and sugar, the rest of the basic necessities are obtained by barter or purchased at the department store, even though prices are higher there." (Nanto and Manyin, 2008)
The method of transportation for commuting to the Kaesong Industrial Complex is stated in the work of Nanto and Manyin (2008) to include: 'some 1,000 bicycles also provided for workers living closer to the complex. According to the KIC Management Council, the health condition of workers at the KIC has visibly improved as they have had access to better nutrition."
Recruitment of workers is through North Korea's Central Guidance Agency on Special Zone Development is accomplished by North Korea's Central Guidance Agency on Special Zone Development, a cabinet level administrative body. According to Nanto and Manyin (2008) the hiring company "...may reject any recruit provided or if the recruit does not demonstrate the requisite skills (e.g., sewing), hire the worker as a trainee at 70% or less of the minimum wage. Employers cannot freely punish or fire incompetent workers. They must give instructions through North Korean mid-level managers. Directly scolding employees is regarded as humiliation and prohibited. The experience of many companies, however, is that labor management is a challenge during the start-up phase of a factory in the KIC. Gradually, however, North Korean workers begin to identify with the company, and a level of trust is developed between the South Korean executives and the North Korean managers and workers." (Nanto and Manyin, 2008)
Nanto and Manyin state that North Korean workers presently "...do not have the right to change employers. This promises to keep labor costs from escalating as they have in other developing markets as foreign firms bid for skilled workers. This also provides companies in the KIC with a stable (though aging) workforce. This practice, however, conflicts with what would be consistent with internationally accepted workers' rights." (Nanto and Manyin, 2008)
It is additionally stated: "North Korea's labor laws are composed of the Socialist Labor Law and relevant provisions in the constitution and the penal code, in addition to laws concerning foreign investors and businesses. The state has full control over the labor market, and the law permits only labor organizations sanctioned and controlled by the state. Under North Korean law there is no concept of an employment contract, as workers are assigned to their jobs by state labor administrative agencies under the control of the Workers' Party. The state is…
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