KCCI "In the AI Era, Labor Market Flexibility Must Be Increased"

Meeting of the Labor Reform Promotion Team Held

The Korea Employers Federation convened labor relations experts, including labor lawyers and key corporate executives, to discuss measures to alleviate labor market rigidity such as overprotection of regular workers and uniform working hours.

On the morning of the 10th, the Federation announced that it held a 'Labor Reform Promotion Task Force Meeting' at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Lee Dong-geun, the full-time vice chairman of the Federation and head of the task force, emphasized, "Despite the industrial transformation where artificial intelligence (AI) and robots are replacing jobs, the National Assembly has not even begun discussions on improving labor laws to respond to changes in industrial structure. Enhancing the competitiveness of our industries and companies through labor reform amid the uncertain domestic and international environment is a top priority for future generations."

He particularly stressed the need to flexibilize working hours. Lee stated, "Working hours should be made more flexible so that companies can respond to industrial structural changes such as digital technological innovation, and workers can use their time according to their own choices and needs. Outdated workplace practices such as workplace occupation or violence must be improved, and institutional reforms aligned with global standards, including allowing substitute labor and improving unfair labor practice systems, are also necessary."

Advisory members participating in the Labor Reform Promotion Task Force pointed out, "As highlighted in a recent report by the Korea Development Institute (KDI), policy efforts need to focus on enhancing labor market flexibility to create new jobs utilizing new technologies in the AI era. However, the National Assembly has not even discussed improving labor laws to respond to industrial structural changes and has only fueled confusion in workplaces by pushing the so-called 'Yellow Envelope Act,' which encourages illegal strikes."

Going forward, the Labor Reform Promotion Task Force plans to conduct public relations activities through the publication of a 'Labor Policy Issue Report' on key labor reform institutional improvement tasks and by hosting academic seminars.