Chungnam Labor Relations Commission Recognizes National Tax Service as Employer of Call Center Workers

The Chungnam Regional Labor Relations Commission, under the Ministry of Employment and Labor, ruled today (June 26) that the National Tax Service (NTS) holds employer status over subcontracted workers at its call center.

Following an interrogation hearing held this morning regarding an application to separate bargaining units, the commission recognized the NTS as an employer while dismissing the application to separate the bargaining units.

The recognition of employer status means that, legally, the NTS is considered an employer required to engage in collective bargaining with the call center workers.

However, the specific scope of this recognition and the grounds for the decision have not yet been disclosed, as the written decision has not been delivered to either party.

Previously, on March 10, the National Tax Service Call Center Chapter—a subcontracted workers' union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Service General Union—demanded collective bargaining with the NTS as the primary employer, following the implementation of the revised Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act (the Yellow Envelope Act).

In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor's Collective Bargaining Support Committee determined on April 8, following internal consultation, that the NTS is indeed the primary employer regarding issues of "improving working environments and protective measures for emotional laborers." However, the NTS subsequently filed an application with the Chungnam Regional Labor Relations Commission to separate the bargaining units, leading to a new review process regarding its employer status.

The NTS is expected to determine its future course of action after reviewing the specific scope and reasoning of the decision once the written document is delivered.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.