Over 60% of vocational graduates face unfair treatment, discrimination

A significant majority of vocational high school graduates in South Korea face unfair treatment and discrimination in the workplace, according to a recent survey. The study, conducted by the National Union of Vocational High Schools, found that over 60% of respondents reported experiencing such issues, primarily related to their educational background.

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The salary tables for high school, junior college, and university graduates are completely different. For high school graduates, there is no hope for promotion, and I strongly felt like a disposable commodity used when young.

Graduates commonly cited wage discrimination, with their salaries not reflecting their experience or performance compared to university graduates. Promotion discrimination was also a major concern, with many feeling overlooked for advancement opportunities solely due to their high school diploma. One graduate lamented, "I've worked for five years, but I receive the same salary as a new university graduate. While it takes university graduates two to three years for promotion, it takes high school graduates seven to eight years." This has led to feelings of being treated as "disposable commodities" early in their careers.

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I've worked for five years, but I receive the same salary as a new university graduate. While it takes university graduates two to three years for promotion, it takes high school graduates seven to eight years, and it seems that wages and promotions are determined by final education level, not work performance or experience.

Beyond wage and promotion disparities, respondents also reported issues such as unpaid overtime, verbal abuse, exploitation of comprehensive wage systems, and wage theft. The young age of these graduates was often exploited, with employers pressuring them into dangerous tasks or unpaid overtime, taking advantage of their limited knowledge of labor rights.

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Exploiting their young age, they forced dangerous work or unpaid overtime. Especially as new entrants to the workforce, they often lacked knowledge of labor rights and could not properly respond to unfair treatment such as verbal abuse, workplace bullying, or unpaid wages.

The union is calling for enhanced post-employment support from vocational schools, as many graduates feel schools offer little recourse when problems arise during internships or early employment. The union also advocates for continuous monitoring and support for graduates facing difficulties in the labor market, emphasizing that the focus should extend beyond simply improving employment rates to ensuring fair working conditions and protecting the rights of young workers.

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Vocational high schools operate programs like certification training through government support projects. In this process, employment rates, student numbers, and certification acquisition rates are influenced, creating a structure where it is difficult for schools to protect graduates after employment.