민간 고용평등상담실, 내년에도 반쪽 복원 그치나…예산처, 예산 배정 ‘손사래’

The Ministry of Employment and Labor's Gender Equality Consultation Service, which saw partial restoration this year, is expected to struggle with fully operating 19 centers next year, according to the Planning and Budgeting Agency. Concerns have been raised that the accumulated capacity of female labor consultation personnel could be severed.

According to a thorough examination of the Korea Herald, the Planning and Budgeting Agency does not plan to fund all 19 centers for the next fiscal year, only those that serve as government consultation booths in regional labor offices. Government consultation booths located in each regional labor office are considered sufficient.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor designates specialized consultation agencies to handle work-related sexual harassment and employment-based gender discrimination, allowing experienced counselors with at least three years of experience to provide support through collaboration with lawyers and labor experts as needed. The service, which has been responsible for counseling female workers since 2000, was dissolved in 2023-2024 when the budget was cut entirely.

The previous administration, led by Yoon Suk-yeol, had pledged to establish government-employed gender equality consultants at eight regional labor offices to replace the service. However, the current administration, which took office this year, has resumed the operation of the private gender equality consultation service, planning to run it alongside 16 government-run counselors at eight labor offices.

The operating level, however, has only reached nine centers, half of the previous capacity. Female labor experts have called for the restoration of the private gender equality consultation service to its previous state. The counseling services offered by government consultation booths have a less accessible process, while private consultation services can provide more accessible services, such as anonymous counseling, which is particularly important for cases of workplace sexual harassment.

Kim Ji-hee, a deputy director of the Korean Confederation of Women's Organizations, stated that the reduced accessibility to gender equality consultation services has resulted in many individuals seeking help only to find their issues exacerbated upon arrival. She explained that resolving issues alone often leads to further escalation.

The gender equality consultation service has become significantly more challenging to navigate for those seeking assistance.