'Labor Blind Spot' Platform Labor Rights, 'Squeaky' from the Start of Discussions

'Platform Labor Forum' Led by Minnochoong
Originally Scheduled for End of This Month, Postponed to Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Social discussions aimed at clearly defining the rights of so-called 'platform workers,' such as food delivery and substitute drivers, are encountering difficulties from the outset.

According to the Service Federation of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and others on the 21st, the 'Social Dialogue Forum for Alternatives to Platform Labor' (hereinafter referred to as the Platform Labor Forum), which was planned to launch at the end of this month with participation from the Service Federation, Korea Startup Forum, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, has been postponed until next month. The forum was scheduled to discuss the preparation of standard contracts related to platform labor and improvements in worker treatment. A Service Federation official stated, "As we are negotiating the inclusion of the 'Rider Union,' a labor union mainly composed of delivery agents, the launch is expected to be delayed by about one to two weeks compared to the original plan."

Meanwhile, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) has put a brake on the launch of the Platform Labor Forum, drawing attention to future developments. In an official letter sent to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC), the FKTU demanded, "Stop immediately the establishment of a new social discussion body on platform labor," citing concerns that "agreements by some labor and management parties might be disguised as social compromises involving the government, potentially leading to an issue of excessive representation that could serve as a policy judgment standard for platform labor in the future."

The FKTU points out that existing social dialogue bodies such as the ESLC and the Jobs Committee already have frameworks to discuss platform labor issues. Since the government has decided to participate beyond labor and management, the FKTU, as one of the two major labor organizations, cannot be excluded, and ongoing social discussions could be confused.

On the other hand, the Service Federation, which is leading the forum, emphasizes that it is 'led by labor and management organizations.'

A Service Federation official said, "Platform workers operate in a 'labor blind spot' where they are not protected from industrial accidents or unemployment in a market order that has not been established," adding, "While the ESLC and Jobs Committee discuss mid- to long-term tasks, the Platform Labor Forum is a place where the parties involved and platform companies can quickly reach agreements and consider areas for change. The preparation of standard contracts is an example."

Some view the noise surrounding the launch of the Platform Labor Forum as part of an internal power struggle within the labor movement over social agreements and institutional arrangements related to platform workers.