The purpose of this study is to understand limitations and possibilities of organizing independent contractors by focusing on insurance solicitors in South Korea. Among various types of precarious employment, insuranc...The purpose of this study is to understand limitations and possibilities of organizing independent contractors by focusing on insurance solicitors in South Korea. Among various types of precarious employment, insurance solicitors are an exemplar case of independent contractor jobs in Korea. According to the narrow interpretation on the employment relationship by the courts, the labor standard law does not treat insurance solicitors as workers. And, most of insurance solicitors are not affiliated with labor unions. As a result, insurance solicitors are outside labor protections. Under this context, insurance solicitors attempted to organize their own union--Korean Insurance Agents＇ Union （KIAU） in the early 2000s, and turned it into a branch of Korean Finance and Service Workers＇ Union （KFSWU） in 2004. However, the KIAU lost its membership rapidly since the mid-2000s and has failed to revitalize itself until now. So, in this study, the author focuses on the changes in the employment structure behind the growth of the insurance industry in the private sector and the reason why union organizing of independent contractors was not successful.展开更多
With the increasing popularity of the Internet and mobile Internet, the Virtual Community （VC） is becoming an important medium for person-to-person communication. To realise the potential of the VC, it is neces- sar...With the increasing popularity of the Internet and mobile Internet, the Virtual Community （VC） is becoming an important medium for person-to-person communication. To realise the potential of the VC, it is neces- sary to cultivate within it good group cohesion and vitality. Using empirical and experimental research methods, this study explores the ef- fect of users＇ trust in the VC Platform （VCP） on group cohesion and vitality and how brand and perceived privacy security can affect us- ers＇ trust in the VC. The research results indi- cate that the brand of the VCP can directly af- fect users＇ trust in the VC, and can also influe- nce it indirectly through users＇ perceived pri- vacy protection and perceived security protec- tion. Further, this study also confu＇ms that the performance of the VC （group cohesion and vitality） is significantly affected by users＇ trust in the VC. The results of this study can provide theoretical guidance for internet companies to maintain and enhance the value of VCs.展开更多
文摘The purpose of this study is to understand limitations and possibilities of organizing independent contractors by focusing on insurance solicitors in South Korea. Among various types of precarious employment, insurance solicitors are an exemplar case of independent contractor jobs in Korea. According to the narrow interpretation on the employment relationship by the courts, the labor standard law does not treat insurance solicitors as workers. And, most of insurance solicitors are not affiliated with labor unions. As a result, insurance solicitors are outside labor protections. Under this context, insurance solicitors attempted to organize their own union--Korean Insurance Agents＇ Union （KIAU） in the early 2000s, and turned it into a branch of Korean Finance and Service Workers＇ Union （KFSWU） in 2004. However, the KIAU lost its membership rapidly since the mid-2000s and has failed to revitalize itself until now. So, in this study, the author focuses on the changes in the employment structure behind the growth of the insurance industry in the private sector and the reason why union organizing of independent contractors was not successful.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grants No.71201011,No.71301106,No.71103021the Ministry of Education in China under Grants No.13YJA630084,No.13YJC630034,No.20120005120001
文摘With the increasing popularity of the Internet and mobile Internet, the Virtual Community （VC） is becoming an important medium for person-to-person communication. To realise the potential of the VC, it is neces- sary to cultivate within it good group cohesion and vitality. Using empirical and experimental research methods, this study explores the ef- fect of users＇ trust in the VC Platform （VCP） on group cohesion and vitality and how brand and perceived privacy security can affect us- ers＇ trust in the VC. The research results indi- cate that the brand of the VCP can directly af- fect users＇ trust in the VC, and can also influe- nce it indirectly through users＇ perceived pri- vacy protection and perceived security protec- tion. Further, this study also confu＇ms that the performance of the VC （group cohesion and vitality） is significantly affected by users＇ trust in the VC. The results of this study can provide theoretical guidance for internet companies to maintain and enhance the value of VCs.
