Moon Sung-hyun "Steel - Ministry of Industry & Construction - Ministry of Land... 'Serious Accident Labor-Management-Government Governance' Needed" (Comprehensive)

The Economic, Social and Labor Council to Hold 'Press Briefing on Committee Operation Direction' on the 14th
"Serious Accident Act, Steel and Construction Associations Also Preparing for Conference... Urging Labor Union Participation"
Emphasizing No Issues with the 52-Hour Workweek System... "SMEs Should Utilize Flexible Working Hours"
"Platform Workers Need Social Security Similar to Self-Employed and Exclusive Workers"

Moon Sung-hyun, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Moon Sung-hyun, chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC), a social dialogue body under the direct control of the president, emphasized on the 14th that "the proposal of the Serious Accident Punishment Act has created an opportunity for labor, management, and government to establish a joint governance system." He stressed, "I hope that a framework for labor, management, and government will be established to settle the Serious Accident Act, with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the steel industry and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for the construction industry, as well as labor and management."

Moon Sung-hyun: "Steel and Construction Employers Also Preparing for Serious Accident Act Dialogue... Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Participation"

Chairman Moon made these remarks at an online press conference on the 'Operational Direction of the ESLC.' While significantly reducing serious and industrial accidents after the law's passage is meaningful, his view is that it is more necessary to build a governance system among labor, management, and government to reduce accidents.

He said, "Industrial safety, including serious accidents, must be a system where labor and management share responsibility and roles on the actual site to be effective," adding, "It is not that accidents decreased because the law was passed or punishments were imposed, but the ESLC will support confirming that accidents decreased due to the establishment of a joint governance system."

He continued, "What was most heartbreaking in the past six months was that industrial accidents continued to occur even after the law was enacted, and discussions among labor, management, and government had not taken place," adding, "The Steel Association, Construction Association, and others said they would participate if the ESLC created a discussion forum for labor, management, and government, and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions indicated that at least the construction and steel industries would be able to discuss if preparations are made."

Present at the meeting, Bae Gyusik, standing member of the ESLC, said, "Regarding the establishment of the joint governance system mentioned by Chairman Moon, we will consider approaches taking into account about five industries with frequent accidents and about ten major accident risk factors," adding, "No specific schedule or direction has been decided yet."

"No Major Conflict Expected Over 52-Hour Workweek" "Active Use of 6-Month Flexible Work System"

Regarding the 52-hour workweek system, Chairman Moon said, "Among the work the ESLC has done over the past four years, the agreements on 'shortening working hours' and 'flexible operation' are very significant," adding, "For the time being, no major conflicts between labor and management over working hours are expected in Korea." Although small and medium-sized enterprises are requesting an extension of the system's grace period, Chairman Moon expressed the opinion that there is no major problem with the current system. The government has sufficiently supplemented the system, such as extending the flexible working hours system from a maximum of three months to six months.

Chairman Moon said, "The ESLC generally believes that serious problems related to 'flexible operation' will be resolved, but if problems arise, they can be sufficiently discussed as an agenda," urging, "Small and medium-sized enterprises should not be overly burdened by this point."

Commissioner Bae said, "Due to the COVID-19 situation, foreign workers have not been deployed on time, so small and medium-sized enterprises face difficulties such as seasonal demand surges or approaching delivery deadlines, making extended work unavoidable," adding, "The flexible work system that can be used for up to six months will be a very useful tool." He continued, "Some may want to use the flexible work system for 10 to 12 months beyond six months, but the 52-hour workweek limit was set to reduce that," and said, "The foreign worker issue is a matter to be discussed together in the future."

"Platform Workers to Enjoy Social Security Benefits Equivalent to Exclusive Employees"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the press conference, questions poured in regarding ▲ the future operational direction of the subordinate Platform Committee ▲ reflections on the task of 'overcoming polarization' emphasized at the committee's launch, among others.

Regarding the operation of the Platform Committee, Chairman Moon said, "For platform industry workers such as delivery drivers, there may be parts that are difficult to resolve through traditional labor unions, so I think in-depth consideration is needed on this issue."

Commissioner Bae explained, "Platform workers are completely different from traditional exclusive employees, so the core is to support them in enjoying social security benefits and benefits similar to those of employees and self-employed workers," adding, "After the enforcement of the 'Act on the Development of the Living Logistics Service Industry (Saengmul Act)' next month, it is currently difficult for the ESLC to provide practical support regarding insurance products that mutual aid associations and cooperatives, which the platform industry will autonomously prepare to establish, will offer."

"Overcoming Polarization Is Insufficient... Difficult to Solve by Approaching Only 'Wage Gap Reduction'"

Stakeholders of the 99% Coexistence Solidarity for Economic Democratization and Polarization Resolution march near Gyeongbokgung Station in Seoul on the 1st, condemning the Moon Jae-in administration's retreat from chaebol reform and neglect of public welfare. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Regarding overcoming polarization, Chairman Moon said, "The reason I initially became chairman of the ESLC was to overcome polarization, but it has not been sufficient," adding, "We tried to focus on wage gaps, asking those with higher wages to restrain increases and those with lower wages to raise them, and high-income earners to contribute to a solidarity fund to resolve polarization," but "I think it is quite difficult to realize these, and now we need to find other alternatives."

He said, "It is difficult to generalize social solidarity fund formation among regular workers without an overall consensus," emphasizing, "Since polarization is expected to worsen after COVID-19, it is necessary to continuously discuss this issue."

Meanwhile, labor, management, and government announced a cooperative resolution on 'Having a Safe Summer Vacation to Overcome the COVID-19 Crisis' that day. They agreed to actively cooperate in supporting workers to take safe vacations by implementing measures such as dispersing summer vacations to overcome COVID-19 quarantine.

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