Minister of Employment and Labor Gyeong-deok An Focuses on Expanding Youth Job Opportunities from Day One (Comprehensive)

KCCI Joins Hands, Urging to "Meet Corporate Social Responsibility Demands Such as ESG Investment"

New Minister of Employment and Labor Ahn Kyung-duk delivering his inaugural speech at the inauguration ceremony held at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City on the morning of the 7th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Ahn Kyung-duk, the newly appointed Minister of Employment and Labor, raised the issue of 'solving youth employment problems' from his first day in office on the 7th. At the inauguration ceremony held at the Government Sejong Complex that morning, Minister Ahn stated, "We will focus the Ministry of Employment and Labor's capabilities on expanding youth employment opportunities so that they can find hope through jobs and prepare for the future." He emphasized, "To promote youth entry into the labor market, we will create conditions for private companies to increase jobs and strengthen strategic investments and vocational training for systematic talent development in new technology fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and big data."

Minister Ahn promised, "We will strive to create better job environments for vulnerable groups such as women, middle-aged and older adults, and persons with disabilities," and "We will also establish support systems to help those who lost jobs during the industrial structural transition move to better jobs." He also mentioned, "The job situation our people face in reality is still difficult," and "I feel a heavy responsibility in taking on the important role of Minister of Employment and Labor at a time when jobs are more important than ever."

He added, "We will mobilize all policy measures, including support for corporate job creation and employment retention, to improve the situation of those struggling to find jobs as soon as possible." He continued, "Ahead of the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act next year, we will actively support the establishment of safety and health management systems for each company and use this as an opportunity to drastically transform the safety and health systems and culture in our industrial sites," adding, "We will also accelerate efforts to reduce fatal accidents."

Minister of Employment and Labor An Kyung-duk (right) shaking hands with Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik during a visit to the Korea Employers Federation in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 7th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

Immediately after the inauguration ceremony, Minister Ahn paid respects at Daejeon National Cemetery and in the afternoon visited the Korea Employers Federation (KEF) and the Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC), a social dialogue body under the President. In particular, when meeting with KEF Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik, Minister Ahn stated, "The role of companies and management is crucial for the rapid recovery of jobs for youth and women, who were most affected by the COVID-19 shock," and added that the government will strengthen support such as deregulation of new industries and expansion of hiring subsidies.

He urged, "We ask the management to consider fundamental changes together so that recent corporate social responsibility demands, such as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investments, can become an opportunity to strengthen the protection of workers' basic rights, including safety."

Minister Ahn had planned to visit the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) before visiting KEF, but the visit was canceled at the request of the FKTU due to a COVID-19 case occurring in the FKTU Secretariat.