Korea Employers Federation Holds Forum on
"The Role and Tasks of Labor, Management, and Government"
There has been a call for the independence and specialization of social dialogue bodies as a way to address increasingly complex labor issues.
This is because topics such as the disappearance of jobs in the era of artificial intelligence (AI), the restructuring of the labor market due to an aging population, and industrial transformation in response to the climate crisis are difficult to discuss at the corporate level.
Jung Heungjun, a professor at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, made these remarks at the forum titled "The Role and Tasks of Labor, Management, and Government for Revitalizing Social Dialogue," held on the 30th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. The forum was co-hosted by the Korea Employers Federation and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions.
Professor Jung stated, "It is expected that labor-management issues that go beyond individual companies and industries will continue to increase, and these are topics that require discussion at the national level." He added, "Therefore, I propose that the Economic, Social and Labor Council, the current social dialogue body, should be restructured as an independent organization under the Government Organization Act, rather than remaining an agency under the President."
Professor Jung explained that if the Economic, Social and Labor Council were reorganized into an independent body like the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission or the National Human Rights Commission, it would be able to focus more on social dialogue itself rather than on government policy agendas. He said, "With its own personnel and budget, it would be possible to conduct long-term discussions," adding, "It could also serve as an opportunity to enhance expertise, such as by bringing together labor and management organizations or establishing affiliated research institutes."
Additionally, Professor Jung advised, "In order to address complex labor issues through social dialogue and achieve meaningful outcomes, standards must be established in advance for where and how social dialogue will take place for each agenda item."
Kyunghwan Sohn, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, is speaking at the discussion forum titled "The Role and Tasks of Labor, Management, and Government for Revitalizing Social Dialogue," held on the 30th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
Son Kyungshik, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, said in his opening remarks, "The unprecedented low birth rate and aging population are constraining economic vitality, and as digital transformation driven by AI accelerates, the industrial structure and working environment are changing rapidly." He continued, "Through social dialogue, the positions of both labor and management must be reflected in a balanced way, and solutions must be presented for the public and for the future of society."
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