Major domestic corporations met with Kim Young-hoon, Minister of Employment and Labor, and expressed concerns about the government's push for labor policy.
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KORCHAM) on the 24th hosted the Employment and Labor Committee at the KCCI building in Jung-gu, Seoul, inviting the Minister to discuss "the new administration's major employment policy direction." The event was arranged to convey corporations' on-site views during the government's labor policy drive and to communicate with the policy authority, the Ministry of Employment and Labor.
More than 60 businesspeople who attended the meeting that day submitted opinions to the Minister on follow-up measures to the amended Labor Union Act, commonly called the "Yellow Envelope Act," as well as on industrial safety policy, raising the mandatory retirement age, and a 4.5-day workweek.
In particular, regarding the Yellow Envelope Act, they said, "After the law was revised, the negotiating parties and methods are unclear, which is a major concern," adding, "The follow-up manual the government is preparing should map out all possible scenarios and fully reflect the business community's views."
On industrial safety policy, they said, "We agree with the intent of the comprehensive labor safety plan, but we question whether tougher penalties will lead to accident prevention," adding, "To reduce accidents, it is important that not only corporations but also workers bear safety responsibility."
They conveyed that discussions on extending the mandatory retirement age have limits in addressing the employment of older workers and that groundwork such as overhauling the wage system should come first. Regarding the introduction of a 4.5-day workweek, they requested institutional improvements to increase flexibility in working hours, such as expanding the unit for managing extended work hours and adopting a white-collar exemption (a system excluding certain employees from working-hour regulations).
Lee Jae-ha, KORCHAM's Employment and Labor Committee chair (chairman of SAMBO MOTORS Group), said, "The success of employment and labor policy hinges on how it is received and carried out on the ground," adding, "We ask the government to communicate steadily with the field and listen to opinions so that the effectiveness of policies can be maximized through meticulous review."