Sojinkong, Labor and Management Agree on Efforts to Support Small Business Owners and Improve Employee Treatment

On the 24th, a Labor-Management Council Meeting Held to Actively Support Small Business Owners and Improve Employee Job Satisfaction

Chairman Jo Bong-hwan (right) and Labor Union Chairman Kim Jong-ha taking a commemorative photo at the labor-management council meeting. Photo by Small Enterprise and Market Service

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] The Small Enterprise and Market Service (SEMAS) held its first labor-management council meeting of the year, fostering mutual understanding between labor and management on efforts to support small business owners in crisis and improve employee treatment.

At the labor-management council held on the 24th at SEMAS Seoul-Gangwon Regional Headquarters, representatives from both labor and management participated to discuss a total of 10 agenda items, including urgent tasks to overcome the crisis faced by small business owners.

During the meeting, reflecting on last year’s achievements through labor-management cooperation?such as the integration of general staff and counseling guidance staff job series and the introduction of job-based pay?the parties reaffirmed their commitment to supporting small business owners in crisis and formed a consensus on continuous improvement of employee treatment.

Chairman Jo Bong-hwan stated, "As a result of labor-management efforts, the general staff and counseling guidance staff have been integrated, creating a true foundation for unity ourselves. Based on this strength of the service, we will do our best to support small business owners and traditional markets, including the fourth disaster relief fund, the 'Butimok Fund Plus.'"

Kim Jong-ha, the labor union chairman, said, "Last year was a challenging year for all SEMAS employees who worked hard to support small business owners and traditional markets amid the national crisis caused by COVID-19. This year as well, please continue to work together to overcome the crisis of small business owners and traditional markets, and the union will do its best to improve workers’ treatment and job satisfaction."

Meanwhile, SEMAS, which was launched in 2014 through the merger of the Small Enterprise Promotion Agency and the Market Management Promotion Agency, completed the integration of two job series?previously identified as internal conflict factors?and fully introduced job-based pay as of January 1 this year, marking a milestone of harmony seven years after its establishment.

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