Employment Minister: "Establish Rule of Law in Labor-Management Relations and Resolve Labor Rigidity"

Meeting with Key Corporate HR and Labor Executives

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik is giving a greeting at the ceremony for strengthening financial and employment integrated support for the economic self-sufficiency of low-income and vulnerable groups, held on the 24th at the Hanam Employment Welfare Plus Center in Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

On the 14th, Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated, "This year, we will promote tasks for creating good jobs based on social dialogue among labor, management, and government on a firm foundation of labor-management rule of law."

On the same day, Minister Lee held a meeting at the Korea Press Center with Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, and chief human resources and labor officers (CHOs) from major companies, where he made these remarks. The meeting was organized to build consensus on the government's labor reform and to listen to the difficulties faced by companies regarding related policies.

In his opening remarks, Minister Lee emphasized, "Last year was the inaugural year of labor reform, achieving results in spreading awareness and practices of law compliance at workplaces through the establishment of labor-management rule of law." He continued, "In industrial sites, the number of lost workdays due to labor issues has clearly decreased to about one-third of the average under previous governments, laying the foundation for a labor-management relationship based on coexistence and cooperation," and added, "This year, we will establish labor-management rule of law as a practice and culture at workplaces and resolve labor market rigidity to expand job opportunities for the people."

Minister Lee urged, "As ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is becoming a new trend in management, the government asks the business community to create changes on the ground by practicing coexistence and cooperation among large, medium, and small enterprises and between primary and subcontractors, rather than focusing on short-term profits."

The business community agreed on the importance of creating awareness and practices that comply with existing laws and systems and expressed hope for increased flexibility in laws and systems to quickly respond to changes in the management environment. They also added that they will fulfill their social role together with the government and labor to build a sustainable labor market.

Minister Lee announced, "This year, based on the foundation of labor-management rule of law, we will focus on low birthrate, industrial transition, creation of good jobs, and resolution of dual structures through social dialogue with labor and management, and promote labor reform."