Choi Jin-sik, president of the Federation of Middle Market Enterprises of Korea (FOMEK), on the 20th emphasized that a shift in social perceptions about employment flexibility is needed to strengthen industrial competitiveness at a "labor-management-government luncheon meeting."
Choi noted that discussions on expanding employment flexibility have not advanced to practical pilot stages because of ideological conflict and a lack of public trust. He said, "Corporations should strengthen their responsibility for redeploying and retraining workers, and the government should support this by rationalizing regulations."
Attending the meeting were Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL); Chairperson Kim Dong-myung of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions; and Chairperson Kim Ji-hyeong of the Economic, Social and Labor Council. The meeting was arranged on the occasion of a proposal to expand labor-management-government communication raised at the "Economic, Social and Labor Council inauguration ceremony" on Mar. 3.
Choi also said, "To respond to complex environmental changes such as the artificial intelligence transition (AX), demographic shifts, the spread of protectionism, and supply chain instability, labor structure reform based on trust among labor, management, and government is necessary," adding, "We need to build a virtuous cycle in which corporations' competitiveness raises the value of labor and labor innovation drives corporate growth."