The purpose of this paper is to analyse wage differentials between non-regular and regular works. Data from EAPS(Economically Active Population Survey) 2005 show that the monthly wage level of non-regular worker is only 63% of regular worker and thus ...
The purpose of this paper is to analyse wage differentials between non-regular and regular works. Data from EAPS(Economically Active Population Survey) 2005 show that the monthly wage level of non-regular worker is only 63% of regular worker and thus there exist 37% wage differentials. However, these wage differentials do not control for hours of work, the amount of human capital, job characteristics, and other individual characteristics affecting wages. If these variables are added to the hourly wage regression equation, the wage gap between non-regular and regular workers drastically decreases to 2.2%. Furthermore, decomposition of the wage differentials by Oaxaca method shows that productivity difference between non-regular and regular workers explains up to 91% of the wage gap. This implies that the magnitude of wage discrimination against non-regular workers is at most 0.2% of hourly wage of regular workers. To control for unobserved individual heterogeneities more accurately, we also construct panel data and estimate wage differentials. The results from the panel data approach show that there is no difference in the hourly wages between non-regular and regular workers. In some specifications, the wage rate of non-regular worker is rather higher than that of regular worker. These results are consistent with economic theory. Other things being equal, workers with unstable employment may require higher wages to compensate their unstability. Firms are willing to pay higher wages if they can get more flexibility from non-regular employment. Empirical results in this paper cast doubt on the view that there is wage discrimination against non-regular workers in the labor market. Public policies should be targeted for disadvantaged groups among non-regular workers, not for non-regular workers in general.