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Social Exclusion in Public Sector: A Qualitative Case Study of Employees of Special Post Offices

  • Korea Social Policy Review
  • Abbr : KSPR
  • 2020, 27(2), pp.7-44
  • DOI : 10.17000/kspr.27.2.202006.7
  • Publisher : Korean Association of Social Policy
  • Research Area : Social Science > Sociology > Medical / Welfare / Social policy
  • Received : February 4, 2020
  • Accepted : May 28, 2020
  • Published : June 30, 2020

Seungjun Lee 1 Kim, Juri 1

1Univ. of Bristol

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Special post offices are private establishments providing public postal services. A postmaster or postmistress of a special post office is a private person entrusted with public postal services, and his or her employees are permanent full-time regular workers. When the government had financial difficulties in the 1960s, establishment of special post offices were promoted, and 843 branches were founded in South Korea as a result. In 2018, approximately 730 branches are providing postal services mostly in rural areas. By using a qualitative case study method, this research explores diverse dimensions of social exclusion that employees of special post offices are experiencing: salaries, levels of social security, and other employment benefits. The researchers have conducted 4 focus group interviews and 6 in-depth interviews with 23 people working in special post offices. The research findings show that the level of their salaries and expected pension income is lower than those of public officials doing identical postal services. In addition, they are facing instability of employment although their legal status is a regular worker, and they are substantially excluded from employment benefits such as autonomy at work, using leaves, and decent working environment enjoyed by the public officials.

Citation status

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