Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment, "Focusing on Resolving Worker Disparities and Employment Issues for Those in Their 40s"

Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor is speaking at the 5th Employment Policy Council of 2019 held on the 19th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor, expressed his determination to resolve labor market issues such as disparities among workers and sluggish employment among those in their 40s.

On the afternoon of the 8th, at the '2020 New Year Meeting of Labor, Management, and Government' held at Post Tower in Sogong-ro, Jung-gu, Minister Lee stated, "Despite the dual structure of the labor market, disparities among workers persist, and the employment slump in the manufacturing sector, our main industry, and among the core age group of people in their 40s is severe. In the new year, I will do my utmost with 'Jinsimjinryeok (?心盡力)' to create good jobs that the public can truly feel."

He identified the Ministry of Employment and Labor's priority tasks for this year as ▲ expanding job opportunities and strengthening the employment safety net ▲ promoting mutual growth of workers and companies ▲ seeking solutions based on multilayered social dialogue.

He emphasized, "We will promptly implement job projects and support regions to solve their own employment issues," adding, "We will also address employment measures for those in their 40s." Furthermore, he explained, "We will provide customized jobs for youth, the elderly, women, and persons with disabilities, introduce simultaneous parental leave for couples, and promote work-life balance to create a society where more people work together. The implementation of the National Tomorrow Learning Card will enable lifelong skill development, and protection for new employment types such as platform workers will be strengthened." He also added, "We will fully implement the National Employment Support System to drastically reduce blind spots in employment insurance."

He also mentioned a culture of coexistence between companies and workers. Minister Lee said, "We will support companies to prepare smoothly for the reduction of working hours, and continue to pursue supplementary legislation such as the flexible working hours system," adding, "We will ensure that the Industrial Safety and Health Act, which strengthens workplace harassment systems and the responsibility of prime contractors, is firmly established on the ground to create healthy, safe, and enjoyable workplaces." He particularly stressed, "We will continuously promote policies that improve the quality of labor and reduce disparities among workers."

He also stated that the process of solving these tasks should be based on multilayered social dialogue. He said, "Last year, labor, management, and government agreed through social dialogue on improvements to the flexible working hours system and the introduction of the National Employment Support System," adding, "Only concessions and cooperation that look toward the future of labor, management, and government will be the key to emerging from the thick fog and moving toward a prosperous Republic of Korea for all."

Meanwhile, Kim Ju-young, Chairman of the Korean Federation of Trade Unions, Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, and Moon Sung-hyun, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, attended the event.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.