Inauguration Ceremony Held at Government Complex Sejong on the Afternoon of the 24th
Administrative Resources to Be Focused on Creating Safe Workplaces
"We Will Realize the Right to Disconnect from Employment Departments"
On the afternoon of July 24, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon reiterated his commitment to advancing the Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act) during his inauguration ceremony held at the Government Complex Sejong. He also stated that if the Yellow Envelope Act passes the National Assembly, he will make every effort to prepare for its implementation so that it can be firmly established in the field.
In his inaugural address, Minister Kim said, "Through a variety of policies for all working citizens, who make up the overwhelming majority of our sovereign people, we must lead the 'real growth' of our economy," adding, "This is what we mean by 'growth together with labor,' which is the labor philosophy and policy direction of the Lee Jaemyung administration." He also pledged to pursue four key policies during his term: a society that respects labor, the right to work for all citizens, rights in the workplace, and genuine growth together with labor.
In the process of guaranteeing the right to work for all citizens, Minister Kim plans not only to promote policies for young people and senior workers, but also to address regional employment issues. He explained, "The government will serve as a guide for youth employment, so that young people who do not even have the right to work will not be discouraged and can dream of the future," and added, "We will implement a variety of policies so that young prospective workers can approach their first jobs with excitement."
Minister Kim also stated, "To ensure that technological changes such as artificial intelligence (AI) do not lead to labor exclusion, we will expand job opportunities for baby boomers and help their valuable experience become a social asset." He further said, "We will establish a system to respond when signs of regional employment crises arise, so that employment gaps between regions do not worsen," and "We will work with relevant ministries to build the necessary infrastructure to resolve job mismatches between regions and ensure job sustainability."
In pursuing the guarantee of rights in the workplace, efforts will be made to create safe worksites. Minister Kim said, "We will concentrate all administrative resources on eradicating industrial accidents so that workers can return to their families and society just as they left for work, and so that workers can clearly feel the improvement in safety at worksites." He added, "Through the 'Safe Workplace Project,' which officially began yesterday, we will mobilize all available resources and closely manage labor sites."
He also emphasized, "Since labor safety is a shared interest of both labor and management, we will firmly establish the 'integrated safety and health management system for contractors and subcontractors' as the keystone of labor-management coexistence," and "We will swiftly increase the number of industrial safety inspectors by 300 and continue to expand the workforce at a rapid pace." He further stated, "In accordance with International Labour Organization (ILO) convention standards, local government officials will also supervise workplaces as special judicial police officers under unified standards."
Regarding wage arrears, he mentioned, "We will work with relevant ministries such as the National Tax Service to eradicate intentional and habitual wage arrears by business owners." He also said, "We will legislate equal pay for work of equal value, and the government will establish a foundation for autonomous labor-management negotiations through the wage distribution disclosure system." In addition, he stated, "Through the 'Happy Workplace Certification System' (provisional name), we will consider providing support to small and medium-sized enterprises that comply well with labor laws, comparable to the welfare benefits of large corporations."
Regarding the Yellow Envelope Act, he stressed, "This is a law to promote dialogue, break the vicious cycle of dialogue being deemed illegal, astronomical damage claims, and extreme struggles, and to address disparities." He also said, "It is an important means to overcome labor market disparities and escape the trap of low growth." He stated, "The path to a grand tripartite compromise at the central level among labor, management, and government will also broaden," and added, "If the law passes the National Assembly in the future, we will prepare for its flawless implementation to support positive changes in the field."
Minister Kim also announced changes to the way the Ministry of Employment and Labor operates. He said, "Let's start by eliminating unnecessary tasks," and "I will not ask for unnecessary things myself." He continued, "From the perspective of innovation in working methods, we will realize the 'right to disconnect' to the extent and in the manner possible," and "I will take the lead so that this can be spread as a good example."
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