Fair Trade Commission and Ministry of SMEs strengthen cooperation to stabilize the 'Delivery Price Linkage System'

The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) have agreed to consider measures such as exempting partner companies participating in the delivery price linkage system from regular surveys as an incentive.

Han Ki-jung, Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, and Lee Young, Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, announced this during a meeting held on the 21st at the Seoul Creative Economy Innovation Center.

This meeting was held at the request of Minister Lee Young, who has been promoting the revision of subordinate regulations and explanatory sessions following the amendment of the Act on the Promotion of Mutual Growth between Large and Small-Medium Enterprises (Mutual Growth Act) for the introduction of the delivery price linkage system.

The two ministries agreed to jointly pursue three matters related to the delivery price linkage system: preparing a unified standard linkage agreement before the law’s enforcement date, strengthening publicity to recruit partner companies for the delivery price linkage system, and enhancing incentives for partner companies such as exemption from regular surveys and reduction of fines and penalty points based on linkage performance.

Minister Lee requested Chairman Han to serve as co-chair of the task force (TF) for the on-site establishment of the linkage system. He also asked the FTC to cooperate in jointly hosting roadshows to recruit 6,000 partner companies, an initiative led by the MSS. Chairman Han responded that he would actively consider both requests.

Chairman Han stated, “I strongly agree that the two ministries must strengthen cooperation to introduce and establish the linkage system,” adding, “We will promptly complete the revision of the Subcontracting Act and actively review and implement various cooperation measures with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to ensure the successful establishment of the linkage system.”