New Chairman of Economic and Social Labor Commission Kwon Ki-seob Meets with Son Kyung-sik , Discussing “Unstable Labor Relations, Decline in Economic Vitality”, “Preparing for Future Generations through Labor Reform”, and Urging Improvement of “Yellow Envelope Law”. ‘[Edaily Reporter Lee Da-won] Son Kyung-sik, Chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), met with Kwon Ki-seob, the newly appointed chairman of the Economic and Social Labor Commission on the 13th and said, “In the future, please make efforts for the improvement of laws and systems to establish a rational labor-management culture, including prohibiting occupation of workplaces, through social dialogue.”‘,
Son expressed his high expectations for Chairman Kwon, who served as the Director of Employment Policy and Labor Policy at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and as the first vice minister in the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, leading labor market structural reforms and the establishment of rule of law in the industrial sector. He said, “There will be significant progress in social dialogue for the advancement of the labor market.”
He pointed out, “The unstable labor relations and inefficiency of the labor market are major causes of the decline in national competitiveness.” Son remarked, “As the labor environment is rapidly changing, our outdated labor laws and regulations unable to keep up with these changes, resulting in a decrease in economic vitality, a reduction in quality jobs, and our labor relations being rated at the bottom globally, becoming the biggest obstacle to national competitiveness and job creation.”
Son emphasized, “The goal of social dialogue should not only be focused on the interests of the older generation and immediate issue resolution. It should be a social dialogue that, through labor reform to enhance flexibility in the rigid labor market, injects vitality into the economy and creates quality youth employment opportunities for future generations.”
Regarding the recently passed labor union law amendment in the National Assembly, he expressed significant concerns among companies, saying, “If the amendment is implemented, companies will be forced to relocate overseas or face business contraction due to disputes between labor and management, thereby threatening jobs for workers in small and medium-sized enterprises and future generations.”
Son urged, “Please make efforts for the improvement of laws and systems to establish a rational labor-management culture, including prohibiting occupation of workplaces, through social dialogue in the future.” He added, “I hope that Chairman Kwon, with the Economic and Social Labor Commission at the center, will play a significant role in overcoming the challenges facing our country and preparing for the future society through labor market structural reforms.”
FKI conveyed to the Economic and Social Labor Commission the need to revamp the current seniority-based wage system to one based on duties and performance, and emphasized the necessity for flexible policies such as expanding the unit of overtime pay calculation.