The Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) launched a deputy head-level operating consultative body. The goal is to establish a channel for ongoing labor policy negotiations and communication.
According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL), Federation of Korean Trade Unions Secretary-General Ryu Gi-seop and Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) Vice Minister Kwon Chang-jun met on the 9th at the Seoul Regional Office of Employment and Labor and agreed to launch the consultative body.
The labor-government consultative body is designed to exchange broad views between the labor community and the government on major labor policies across the board. It aims to enhance on-site suitability and policy acceptance.
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions labor-government consultative body will run a working-level council every month with participation from the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) director-general for labor policy and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions Secretary-General, among others. On a quarterly basis, it plans to hold a deputy head-level operating council.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) is operating regular working-level councils not only with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions but also with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Korea Employers Federation. Going forward, it plans to sequentially launch deputy head-level operating councils with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Korea Employers Federation as well.
On the day, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions proposed 10 key agenda items: ▲ settling the revised Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act Articles 2 and 3 and improving labor-management relations ▲ eliminating administrative intervention such as abolishing union accounting disclosure ▲ improving the time-off system ▲ supporting the introduction of a 4.5-day workweek ▲ closing gaps in labor rights ▲ improving discrimination against non-regular workers ▲ enhancing industrial safety and health measures ▲ strengthening the rights of migrant workers ▲ care work measures ▲ a labor-participatory just transition.
Federation of Korean Trade Unions Secretary-General Ryu Gi-seop said, "The consultative body must lead to tangible institutional improvements and advances in workers' lives," adding, "We hope it becomes an opportunity to respect unions as policy partners."
Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) Vice Minister Kwon Chang-jun said, "We will candidly exchange views with the labor and business communities to improve policy completeness," adding, "We hope it becomes a stepping-stone leading to tripartite social dialogue."