Labor laws do not apply to freelancers who suffer workplace harassment, such as the late news anchor Oh Joanna

It was found that four out of ten employees who worked as freelancers signed contracts without knowing that they were not subject to labor laws. Some of them suffered harassment at work.
Recently, the late Oh Yo-han, who worked as a freelance weather presenter for MBC, said she had been harassed at work.
As suspicions grow that the workers were receiving compensation, there are calls to fill the legal dead zone for freelancers.
Workplace Bullying 119 commissioned Global Research to conduct a survey from December 2 to 11 of last year.
As a result of a survey of 1,000 company employees nationwide up to the end of the current fiscal year, 274 respondents (27.4%) said that they had "signed a non-employment contract (freelance, contract work, commission, etc.) that was not an employment contract during the job search process."
Of these, 44.9% said they were unaware that labor laws did not apply to them.
Six out of 10 respondents who said they had experience also indicated that they had worked under the direction of an employer, similar to workers who had signed de facto employment contracts.
"I worked under orders and guidance," said A, who provided information to the group in December last year. "I signed a contract as a freelancer, but my working hours and place of work were strictly controlled."
Some people were not compensated for the damages they suffered because labor laws were not applied to them.
"I put up with the fact that my lunch break was delayed because other employees arrived at dawn, but I was forced to work seven hours and then eat lunch because my superiors were on vacation.
"I'm working for a company, but can't freelancers even complain?" Many company employees believe that the law needs to be revised to protect all employees. 83.3% of respondents said that they
They responded that they "agree" with the creation of the agreement and the amendment of the law to impose the burden of proof on employers. The group argued that basic labor laws should be applied to all workers regardless of their employment status.
Kwon Doo-seop, a lawyer working for the group, said, "All workers, regardless of their form or name - whether they are contractors, subcontractors, special employment, platforms, or freelancers - should have the right to join a labor union and the right to prevent unfair labor practices.
"Basic labor laws such as protection from employment and contract termination, the Industrial Safety and Health Act, the prohibition of discrimination, the prohibition of harassment in the workplace, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act must be applied."
The group also said of the late Oh Yo-anna, who was a weather presenter at MBC and was accused of harassment, "MBC was a job-saver.
They did not prevent the harassment at the facility, and did not even investigate the truth even though five months have passed since the deceased's death. In order to prevent such a tragic death from happening again, we must hold the perpetrators and MBC accountable,
"Illegal freelance contracts must be banned, and workplace harassment laws must be applied to all workers," he said.
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