A special committee for social dialogue to discuss resolving the dual structure of the labor market and industrial transition was launched on the 30th.
Social dialogue, which had come to a halt amid labor-government conflicts, has finally gotten back on track with difficulty.
The "Special Committee for Sustainable Jobs and Future Generations" (hereinafter referred to as the Special Committee) under the Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC), a presidential advisory body for social dialogue, held its first meeting on the afternoon of the same day at the ESLC main conference room in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, to discuss the Special Committee’s operational plans.
The Special Committee is chaired by Lee Won-duk, former president of the Korea Labor Institute. It consists of 16 members including labor, management, and government representatives such as Ryu Ki-seop, Secretary General of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU); Lee Dong-geun, Executive Vice President of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF); Lee Sung-hee, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor; Kim Deok-ho, standing member of the ESLC; and public interest members. Vice ministers from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy also participate as government members.
The Special Committee is one of three subcommittees agreed upon by labor, management, and government to resume detailed discussions after social dialogue was restarted at the ESLC plenary meeting on February 6. It will discuss four agendas: ▲ industrial transition ▲ resolving unfair disparities ▲ enhancing flexibility, stability, and vitality in the labor market ▲ and labor-management relations based on dialogue and compromise.
At the first meeting, Chairman Lee Won-duk said, "The four agendas to be discussed by the Special Committee are essential tasks for the economy and jobs during this great transition period," adding, "They are also difficult tasks."
He continued, "The Special Committee bears the historical responsibility to solve these difficult tasks," emphasizing, "Close consultation and consensus-building among labor, management, and government are important, and the expertise of public interest members and collective intelligence are also necessary."
Ryu Ki-seop, Secretary General of the FKTU, stated, "Trust and respect are the foundation of social dialogue," and warned, "If the government unilaterally announces or pushes forward labor reforms that worsen conditions or suppresses unions during the social dialogue process, trust will collapse and social dialogue will inevitably disappear forever."
Lee Dong-geun, Vice President of KEF, said, "I hope the Special Committee will discuss sustainable development plans for our labor market," adding, "Above all, we need to pool wisdom to revitalize the economy through labor market flexibility and improve laws and systems for reasonable labor-management relations."
The ESLC plans to launch other agenda-specific committees, such as the "Work-Life Balance Committee" and the "Continued Employment Committee for Responding to Demographic Changes," within next month.
The Work-Life Balance Committee will discuss reducing and flexibilizing working hours, protecting health rights, improving working methods, and supporting work and childcare compatibility, while the Continued Employment Committee will discuss wage system reforms following retirement age extension and expanding labor market participation of middle-aged and older workers.
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