Fridae

A job applicant who believes they were turned down because they’re gay could ask the employer in writing what criteria it used and where they ranked on each one. Under South Korea’s proposed Equality Act, the employer would have 30 days from receiving the request to disclose the information.

The National Assembly sent the bill to its Legislation and Judiciary Committee on 12 November. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ju-min and 11 other lawmakers filed it the previous day. It lists sexual orientation and gender identity among the grounds on which people could challenge unfair treatment at work, in education and training, and when they try to use goods or services.

On the day the bill went to committee, campaigners and lawmakers gathered on the steps of the National Assembly in Seoul. They asked the committee to take up all three equality and anti-discrimination bills filed in the current Assembly. The Coalition for Anti-Discrimination Legislation welcomed Park’s bill and said it wanted lawmakers to add higher damages for malicious discrimination.

Under the proposal, someone who experienced discrimination could complain to the National Human Rights Commission. If the commission recommended a fix and the party responsible ignored it without good reason, the commission could issue a corrective order. The government’s bill tracker shows the referral to committee. It gives no date for a hearing.