Minister of Employment at ILO General Assembly: "Continue Youth and Women Employment Measures in Travel and Aviation Industries"

Speech by Government Chief Representative at the 109th ILO General Assembly on the 8th
"Support for Vulnerable Employment Groups and Industrial Restructuring Including Platforms
In Line with ILO's Emphasis on 'Human-Centered Recovery'"
"Korea Ratified ILO Core Conventions 29, 87, and 98 in April
Actively Supporting Tripartite Solidarity and Cooperation Centered on ILO"

Minister of Employment and Labor, An Kyung-duk. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Employment and Labor Minister An Kyung-duk attended the International Labour Organization (ILO) General Assembly held via video conference for the first time in two years on the 8th, emphasizing that "the Korean government's tailored support for vulnerable employment groups such as the travel and aviation industries, which were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as youth and women, aligns with the ILO's 'human-centered recovery'." Human-centered recovery is the ILO's slogan that simultaneously promotes inclusive recovery encompassing vulnerable employment groups such as youth and women, and resilient recovery that quickly responds to industrial restructuring including platforms.

Minister An attended the General Assembly as the head representative of the Korean government at 8 p.m. (1 p.m. local time in Geneva, Switzerland) and stated that Korea is promoting the establishment of a 'more inclusive labor market' to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. Representatives from labor, management, and governments of 187 countries participated in the assembly.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the core agenda of the General Assembly plenary session was the 'human-centered recovery from COVID-19' emphasized by ILO Director-General Guy Ryder in his report. The annex to Ryder’s report titled 'Labour in the Time of COVID-19' calls for "global action for an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient (employment) recovery."

Minister An said, "The damage from COVID-19 was concentrated on vulnerable labor market groups such as youth, women, and gig economy workers like delivery drivers." He added, "Korea will continue policies for inclusive, sustainable, fast, and strong recovery by implementing youth- and women-tailored job measures and strengthening employment safety nets, expanding vocational training in IT and low-carbon industries, and establishing a fair labor transition support system."

He recalled that Korea amended the Labor Union Act at the end of last year and ratified ILO core conventions Nos. 29, 87, and 98 in April this year. The ILO core conventions Nos. 29, 87, and 98 ratified by the Ministry of Employment and Labor will come into effect on April 20 next year, one year after the deposit of the ratification instruments, and will have the same effect as domestic law. Convention No. 29 prohibits forced labor, and Nos. 87 and 98 relate to freedom of association and protection of the right to organize. He emphasized, "The strength to overcome major crises such as a global pandemic comes from solidarity and cooperation," and stressed, "We will strive to implement the spirit of the ILO core conventions ratified this year and build labor-management relations based on autonomy and responsibility."

He continued, "Concerns about nationalism and inequality between countries are increasing due to COVID-19," adding, "In times of crisis, international cooperation is crucial, and Korea, as a model country for quarantine, will continuously share its COVID-19 response experience with member countries and actively support labor-management solidarity and cooperation centered on the ILO."

The ILO plans to discuss issues such as the status of member countries' ratification and implementation of conventions and strengthening social safety nets until the 19th. Labor, management, and governments of member countries plan to adopt a resolution titled 'Global Call for Action for Human-Centered Recovery from COVID-19' following discussions at the General Assembly. In late November, discussions on 'Inequality and the World of Work' and 'Vocational Skills and Lifelong Learning' will continue.

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