"Prompt Measures to Eradicate Wage Arrears"
Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated on the 1st, "We will unwaveringly fulfill our role and mission to stabilize people’s livelihoods and protect the rights and interests of vulnerable workers." With the retirement period of the baby boomer generation approaching, he also said, "Starting from the first quarter, we will promptly execute direct job creation." He mentioned that he would "make every effort to ensure employment stability for vulnerable groups."
Minister Kim announced these plans for the new year in his New Year's address. At the beginning of his speech, he said, "I pray for the souls of the victims of the Jeju Air accident" and "I extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to the bereaved families."
Minister Kim said, "This year, due to changes in the global trade environment following the inauguration of the second Trump administration and uncertainties in the domestic political situation, the job market conditions are not easy," adding, "At times like these, we will fulfill our role and mission without any hesitation to stabilize people’s livelihoods and protect the rights and interests of vulnerable workers."
He mentioned, "We will make every effort to ensure employment stability for vulnerable groups," and added, "In collaboration with the Ministry of Education and local governments, we will identify 'resting' youth and systematically support them through counseling, training, and employment services." He further explained, "We will hold various large-scale job fairs and regional job events."
Minister Kim also said, "This year marks the beginning of the retirement of 9.54 million second baby boomers," and stated, "Starting from the first quarter, we will promptly execute 1.1 million direct jobs in cooperation with government ministries and local governments." He mentioned, "We will greatly expand life career design services and vocational training so that middle-aged and older workers can work as much as they want."
He added, "We will create a work environment where childcare and work can be balanced through increased parental leave pay, extended parental leave periods, and support for substitute workers."
Minister Kim said, "We will create a warm labor environment," and added, "We will promptly prepare measures to eradicate wage arrears and ensure timely support for the livelihood of affected workers." Additionally, he said, "To guarantee retirees’ old-age income and prevent wage arrears, we will gradually mandate retirement pensions at all workplaces."
He stated, "We will promote the enactment of the Labor Vulnerable Support Act and discuss with labor and management so that the Labor Standards Act can be gradually applied to workplaces with fewer than five employees," adding, "We will do our best to ensure that social dialogue for future generations, including continuous employment and closing labor market gaps, can continue."
Minister Kim said, "We will create safe workplaces," explaining, "We will strengthen winter safety management, as the risk of large-scale fires and explosions is high." He added, "We will focus financial support on improving safety environments, especially in workplaces where accidents repeatedly occur," and said, "We will also make thorough efforts to protect workers’ health."
Minister Kim said, "Last year, the Ministry of Employment and Labor was selected as the top ministry in the 'Public Institution Integrity Evaluation,'" and added, "Let us work together to make the ministry clean, efficient, and warm to the vulnerable in the new year." He concluded his New Year's address by saying, "If we all unite and cooperate, we can turn crises into opportunities and move forward one step further."
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