o National Human Rights Commission of Korea recommended to the Head of 000 Support Center for Multicultural Families to devise measures to prevent forcing specific religion to staff because such act constitutes to discrimination in employment. NHRCK also recommended to the Mayor of 00 City to thoroughly supervise and monitor the institution and come up with measures to prevent recurrence.
o The complainant was hired as a Chinese interpreter at 000 Support Center for Multicultural Families on condition that he will go to church. The complainant filed a petition to NHRCK saying that while he was working at the Center, he was forced to attend services on every Monday, weekends and Thanks Giving day, which is discrimination in employment.
o Head of the center concerned replied that it is true that the complainant submitted a letter of resignation for ‘religious reason’ but he explained that the complainant can continue to work at the Center without attending religious services and she didn’t forced the complainant to go to church.
O However, investigation of NHRCK confirmed that the Center and a church where husband of head of center was a pastor were using the same building, and pastor Kim, husband of the head of center hired the complainant on condition that the complainant attend the church.
Pastor Kim provided a service on every Monday where every employee should attend. He often criticized employees who promised to attend the service during recruitment interview but didn’t actually attend the service.
o Discrimination Rectification Committee concluded that the head of center who forced employees to attend the religious service and Pastor Kim who criticized employee who do not attend the religious service insulted the complainant and provided uncomfortable working condition for the complainant, which was the main reason of reassignment. NHRCK concluded that this is discrimination in employment based on religion prescribed under article 2.3 of National Human Rights Commission Act, and also violation of article 6 of the Labor Standards Act.
