Kim Myung-hwan, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, "Emergency Financial Order to Ban Dismissals Must Be Issued During Disaster Period"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Kim Myung-hwan, chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), urged the expansion of social safety nets, including the issuance of an emergency financial order banning layoffs and the introduction of nationwide employment insurance, in response to the employment crisis caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 17th, at a private meeting with Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Chairman Kim said, “An emergency financial and economic order banning layoffs must be issued to prioritize the protection of vulnerable workers,” according to Park Sung-joon, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson.

Chairman Kim also stated, “A model to overcome the crisis without layoffs should be presented in connection with policy measures for workers in the blind spots of the employment safety net,” and “It is necessary to establish proper New Deal policies and job policies to prepare for the post-COVID era.”

He further called for the introduction of nationwide employment insurance and the full expansion of the social safety net. He emphasized, “Nationwide employment insurance should be legislated by prioritizing special workers, and public healthcare, including medical safety nets and national quarantine systems, must be expanded, along with an increase in public jobs.”

In response, Floor Leader Kim said, “Nationwide employment insurance is a long-term task,” adding, “The system must be supported by finances. If there are difficulties due to realistic conditions, speed adjustment is necessary.”

Floor Leader Kim continued, “Instead of just talking about what is needed, we must clearly discuss what we can offer,” and said, “The KCTU also talks about what is necessary for social grand compromise, but we must also think about what we can offer and create it together.”

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