Minister of Employment and Labor "Considering Adding Aviation Ground Handling Companies to Special Employment Support Sectors"

Minister Lee Jae-gap Holds Employment and Labor Policy Meeting on COVID-19 Response

Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor is briefing on the COVID-19 livelihood support measures for vulnerable groups at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 30th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor, announced on the 13th that he is considering adding ground handling companies and others in the aviation industry to the special employment support sectors to support the aviation industry, which is facing difficulties due to a sharp decline in flight operations.

Minister Lee made this announcement during his opening remarks at the Employment and Labor Countermeasure Meeting held at the Government Complex Sejong in the morning to respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). He stated, "Some companies in industries severely impacted by COVID-19 are at a crossroads regarding employment adjustments," and added, "At a meeting with aviation industry representatives including ground handling companies last week, field officials diagnosed that the entire airport is virtually at a standstill due to the recent sharp decline in flight operations."

He continued, "Currently, employees are taking paid and unpaid leave, but due to severe financial difficulties, the aviation industry appealed that it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain employment solely through their own measures," and emphasized, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor will listen carefully to these voices from the field and actively consider the additional designation of ground handling companies and others, which are currently excluded from the special employment support sectors, and will promptly prepare and implement measures to ensure the maintenance of workers' employment."

He also expressed concerns about the uncertainty of future employment conditions. Minister Lee explained, "Looking at the trend of employment insurance subscribers in March, the increase in the number of subscribers has significantly slowed compared to the same period last year," and added, "Employment slowdown is occurring mainly in face-to-face service industries such as accommodation and food services, transportation, wholesale and retail, and education services."

He stressed that labor and management must unite until the crisis caused by COVID-19 is over. He said, "To quickly overcome the shock of COVID-19 and maintain the momentum for our economy and labor market to recover rapidly, it is more important than anything else for labor and management to unite and maintain employment as stably as possible until we get out of this tunnel of crisis," and added, "In fact, despite difficult conditions on the ground, cases are spreading where local governments, industries, and individual companies' labor-management-government cooperation are jointly declaring and practicing measures to overcome the COVID-19 crisis." He further stated, "The government also plans to strongly support efforts to maintain employment through cooperation and concessions between labor and management," and added, "We will prepare additional employment stabilization measures together with related ministries as soon as possible."

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