Solving Deadlock
The government is looking to lead labor market restructuring, since the tripartite talks for the purpose have halted.
Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Ki-kwon had a press conference in Seoul on April 9 to explain the government’s stance regarding the direction of labor market restructuring. “During the course of the three-party negotiations, the participants reached an agreement on such issues as the necessity of more measures for youth employment, expansion of the social security net, clarification of the scope of ordinary wage, and reduction in working hours. The government is planning to do what it has to do regarding these issues by enacting laws and adjusting its budget plan,” he said. He also added, “In the meantime, we will continue with the negotiations when it comes to half-solved matters like the revision of the Act on the Protection of Fixed-term and Part-time Employees.”
He continued, “There are also some unsolved issues as well, including how to change the rules of employment to prepare new wage systems with regard to retirement age extension, and we will keep collecting opinions from experts and labor and management groups for those matters.”
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions declared the discontinuation of the negotiations on the previous day and did not attend the special tripartite committee meeting on April 9. Under the circumstances, Chairman of the committee Kim Dae-hwan said he would resign.