Director Lee Hoseung "I believe we should not be biased toward either labor or management"
Lee Ho-seung, Chief of Policy at the Blue House, visited the Korea Employers Federation on the 8th and held a meeting with Son Kyung-sik, Chairman of the Federation.
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), met with Lee Ho-seung, Chief of Policy at the Blue House, on the 8th. Lee expressed gratitude, saying that despite the COVID-19 situation, companies have worked hard to overcome the crisis, and Sohn congratulated Lee on his appointment while appealing for a balanced view on labor-management issues.
At around 2:30 p.m. that day, Lee Ho-seung visited the KEF headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and told Chairman Sohn, "Even in the difficult situation caused by COVID-19, thanks to our companies working hard to procure medical supplies such as masks, diagnostic kits, and vaccines, we are overcoming the crisis well, and I feel grateful to the companies."
In response, Sohn Kyung-shik expressed thanks for Lee’s visit to KEF and congratulated him on his appointment as Chief of Policy, conveying suggestions related to current economic issues. Sohn said, regarding labor issues, "We will resolve them through a grand compromise between labor and management," and added, "Solving labor issues is important for companies to win the hearts of the people." He continued, "To achieve a grand compromise between labor and management, we have strengthened skinship with labor organizations and conducted studies on overseas cases such as in Europe," and requested, "We ask the government to maintain a neutral position and have a sense of balance."
Sohn also urged, "We ask the government for much cooperation in the anti-corporate sentiment resolution projects that KEF is focusing on this year."
Regarding this, Lee responded about labor issues, "The government also believes it should not be biased toward either labor or management, so the views of the business community and the government are not different." On resolving anti-corporate sentiment, Lee said, "If the good parts of companies are widely publicized, it greatly helps the government’s policy implementation," and added, "The government will cooperate in improving public perception of companies by informing the public and growing youth about these aspects, and we hope the business community will continue to make efforts."
On the Serious Accident Punishment Act, Sohn said, "In our country, laws are made too easily," and added, "As a result, there tends to be an indiscriminate increase in corporate regulatory bills, so we ask the government to pay attention to these issues." He also lamented, "Although it is a very difficult issue, in the current difficult economic situation, it is necessary to reduce the tax burden on both the public and companies," and pleaded, "Please boost the morale of businesspeople."
Lee said, "We are well aware of the requests KEF conveyed during the legislative process," and added, "We will try to carefully consider them during the process of enacting enforcement ordinances, etc."
After finishing his visit to KEF, Lee told reporters who asked if there were plans to create a platform for communication with economic organizations, "The government will not create a platform, but if there is a meeting among economic organizations, a government representative could participate in discussions," and said, "Whether it is the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry or KEF, if they gather, the government can participate and discuss together."
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