Attendance at Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, Economic Organizations, and Ministry of Employment Agreement Ceremony
"Various Employment Types Must Be Provided Without Fear of Career Interruption"
Son Kyung-sik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, is delivering a greeting at the "Population Crisis Response Agreement Ceremony among the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, Economic Organizations, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor," held on the 2nd at the Federation's headquarters.
[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, emphasized the need to provide various forms of employment opportunities that can meet individuals' diverse needs so that people can stay longer in the labor market without fear of career interruption in response to the population crisis caused by low birth rates. He stated, "As the digital era creates new and diverse jobs, employment-related systems that were applied during the industrialization era must be transformed into flexible systems that align with changes in the industrial field."
Chairman Sohn made these remarks on the 2nd at the Korea Employers Federation building during the 'Population Crisis Response Agreement Ceremony among the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, Economic Organizations, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor.' Attendees included Na Kyung-won, Vice Chairman of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee; Chairman Sohn; Huh Chang-soo, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries; Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business; Choi Jin-sik, Chairman of the Korea Association of Mid-sized Enterprises; Woo Tae-hee, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor.
Chairman Sohn said, "To solve the low birthrate problem, successive governments have invested significant budgets and promoted work-family balance through the expansion of various leave and vacation systems. However, last year, South Korea's total fertility rate was 0.81, the lowest among OECD member countries," adding, "Since we are the only country with a total fertility rate below 1, it is necessary to reconsider whether our society's response to the low birthrate issue has been appropriate."
He continued, "Although there have been continuous expansions of systems such as parental leave, childcare leave, and reduced working hours during childcare in recent years, work-family balance, which is fundamental to solving the low birthrate problem, cannot be achieved solely through quantitative expansion of systems like parental leave."
Chairman Sohn expressed the need for flexible employment systems and stated, "Fair competition opportunities and rewards based on ability must become universal values in the labor market," adding, "Flexibility in working hours and a wage system based on job and performance are basic frameworks for achieving work-family balance."
He also called for expanding reemployment programs tailored to the career types of women experiencing career interruptions and establishing broad incentives for companies to create and transition to various jobs, thereby encouraging active participation from both labor demand and supply sides.
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