Next Friday(June 25) marks the 13th anniversary of the launch of the Jeju Tourism Organization.
The JTO has recently recruited new employees however successful candidates are rejecting offers at the final stages of recruitment due to low wages and rare opportunity for promotion.
To this the JTO is considering a massive restructuring plan and expects bumpy roads ahead. Mike Laidman reports.

Report

The Jeju Tourism Organization announced that eight new employees would be starting work.

But some of the new hires have decided at the last minute not to sign contracts due to the low starting salary that was being offered.



In fact, the wages at the JTO are the lowest among provincial-owned companies which include the JTO, the Jeju Provincial Development Corporation, and the Jeju Energy Corporation.

The JTO’s starting salary had been lower than the living wage suggested by the province until as recently as this April.
Management in the human resources department is also a serious issue.


There have been no promotion opportunities over the last four years since the duty-free stores for travelers closed.

This despite the fact that 70 percent of the company’s permanent employees meet the minimum time required for advancement to a higher position.


The organization has lost its vitality in recent years, with a personnel congestion not leaving any room.
More than 50 employees have left the JTO over the last five years.

Job satisfaction has been on the decrease since 2016 when it was at 66.9 out of 100.


It doesn’t help that the JTO’s plan for massive restructuring is making little progress.


It has been in consultations with the province since last month.
It's plan includes strengthening the organization’s management through its newly-appointed president, and by switching itself from an administrative organization to field-based one.


The plan also includes wage increases for new employees, bringing them up to the average level of local public firms.


However, the plan does not include any reduction in the number of employees, even though the provincial council has pointed out that the large organization often doesn’t put taxpayer money to good use.


The JTO is hoping to conclude the consultations before its 13th anniversary on June 25th, but the future of the talks is looking dim.


With governor Won Heeryong preparing to run for president, the province’s regular personnel changes will be made in early July, two months earlier than usual.

This means that if the JTO fails to conclude its consultations with those currently in charge in the provincial office, its restructuring plans could drift for a long time.

Mike Laidman, KCTV