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| Members of the Korean Federation of Service Workers' Unions rally in front of the National Human Rights Commission building in downtown Seoul, April 22, to condemn department stores and duty free shops for restricting employees from using customer restrooms. Yonhap |
By Bahk Eun-ji
Employers have been advised to remove a policy banning sales workers from using the same restrooms as customers, according to a new guideline announced by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Wednesday.
The measure came months after the public's widespread criticism of a policy at department stores and duty free shops prohibiting staff from using the same restrooms as customers.
Until now, workers have only been allowed to use staff restrooms that many have complained are so far from their counters that they don't have enough time to visit them. As a result, some staff refrain from drinking water during work hours in order to avoid having to use the restroom.
A 2018 survey showed 20 percent of 2,806 workers at department store cosmetics counters and duty free shops suffered from cystitis, with some also having plantar fasciitis, panic disorders and depression attributed to poor work conditions.
"Employers should not designate public toilets as customers-only and ban employees from using them," the ministry said in the guideline.
It recommended restrooms be placed within 100 meters of workplaces.
The guideline also included improvements in working conditions for cleaners and construction workers to protect their human rights and health.
Washing facilities have to be installed in workplaces dealing with toxic substances or cleaning tasks. Male and female workers should have separate restrooms, washing rooms and changing rooms at outdoor construction sites ― a measure that followed criticisms over the lack of separate facilities for female workers who make up a small proportion of the workforce.
