The government announced a plan to give job security to non-regular workers in the public sector. About 140,000 or some 60 % of non-regular workers are expected to benefit from the measure.

The beneficiaries include about 4,000 postal workers, 27,000 street cleaners, job consultants and most of non-regular workers at elementary, middle and high schools.

However, business circles voiced concerns about the governments plan saying that it would have a negative effect on the non-regular worker issue in the private sector.

The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), Korea Employers Federation (KEF), Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and other business groups are worried that employers would be unable to bear additional expenses if the same measure applies to the private sector.

They also expressed concerns that this measure would give a message to foreign investors that Korea's labor market would become even more inflexible.