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“The second consecutive night shift is the hardest. I finish work at 9 a.m. and have to return to work at 6 p.m. the same day. Most accidents happen during that second night shift.”

Joo Jin-ho, who works at Incheon International Airport, described the situation this way, saying, “After finishing a night shift and going home in the morning, I cannot sleep properly and remain so exhausted that I am unable to do anything.” Most employees of subsidiaries operating at Incheon International Airport, which runs 24 hours a day, work under a three-team, two-shift system. Their schedule typically follows the pattern of “day shift, day shift, night shift, night shift, off-duty day, and rest day.” After completing the first night shift, workers return to work only nine hours later for another consecutive night shift. Although workers are formally given three hours of unpaid break time during night shifts, they say that staffing shortages and heavy workloads often make it impossible to take proper breaks. Last year, a young worker reportedly suffered a seizure during his second consecutive night shift and was taken to the emergency room. Joo said, “Employees directly employed by the principal company already work under a four-team, two-shift system, while subsidiary workers were promised improvements to their shift system under a labor-management agreement reached in 2020, but that agreement has still not been implemented.” He criticized the current arrangement, saying, “This grueling three-team, two-shift system is threatening the safety of both airport workers and the public.”

On the morning of September 18, the National Airport Council of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union held a parliamentary testimony session for airport workers at Meeting Room 10 of the National Assembly Members’ Office Building. Airport workers raised concerns over consecutive night shifts, chronic staffing shortages, and employment insecurity associated with airport integration.

Kim Dong-hyun, head of the Security Integration Branch of the Korea Airports Branch, said that security screening workers at Cheongju Airport sometimes work for nine consecutive days and that, in the past, some workers had worked as many as 22 consecutive days. He said, “Because of the staffing shortage, workers have difficulty taking annual leave when they want, and they are sometimes required to work replacement shifts even on scheduled days off.”

Choi In-joo, head of the Central Integration Branch of the Korea Airports Branch, criticized the so-called “vacancy settlement system.” Under the system, labor costs are deducted when contractual staffing vacancies occur.

He said, “The problem is that it does not merely involve settling costs. Even legitimate paid leave, such as maternity leave, is treated as a staffing vacancy, and the corresponding labor costs are recovered.” He added, “The vacancy settlement system, which reduces payment simply because a worker is absent, should be abolished, and contracts should instead be managed based on the airport work actually performed.” Workers also expressed concern over possible workplace transfers resulting from airport integration. Ahn Chang-ho, head of the Southern Integration Branch of the Korea Airports Branch, criticized plans to transfer workers from Muan Airport to Gwangju Airport, saying that there had been insufficient explanation regarding who would be transferred, what criteria would be applied, and whether employees would be guaranteed the right to return to their original workplace.

He said, “Policies should not be finalized first and then simply communicated to workers afterward.” Jeong An-seok, chair of the National Airport Council, said, “Incheon International Airport Corporation, a public institution that should serve as a model employer, is using various tactics to minimize its responsibilities as the principal employer.”

He added, “For meaningful bargaining with the principal employer to take place, the government should conduct strict investigations into the bargaining practices of public institutions and maintain continuous supervision and oversight.”

By Eom Jae-hee Published September 21, 2026, 6:30 a.m. eom@labortoday.co.kr

Source: Maeil Labor News