Son Kyung-sik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, Speaks at ILO General Assembly: "Job Creation Through Regulatory Reform"

Kyunghwan Sohn, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the New Entrepreneurship Declaration Ceremony held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 24th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Myung-Hwan Lee] Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), emphasized the need for job creation through regulatory reform in his speech at the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the 7th.

According to KEF, Chairman Sohn stated in his virtual speech at the 110th ILO General Assembly at 6 p.m. that "We must create a virtuous cycle that boosts the vitality of the economy and companies through bold regulatory reforms and the provision of corporate investment incentives, leading to job creation."

The ILO General Assembly was held in person for the first time in three years due to the impact of COVID-19. This assembly was conducted in a hybrid format, combining in-person and virtual sessions at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and the UN headquarters.

Chairman Sohn reflected, "Of the 255 million jobs lost worldwide due to the pandemic, 22 million have yet to recover," adding, "Concerns about a 'perfect storm'?a massive complex crisis?are growing due to recent events such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, global supply chain disruptions, and inflation risks." He emphasized, "The main agents of job creation are companies," and stressed, "We must support companies affected by the pandemic and create an environment where new industries emerging from the digital transformation process can further develop."

Chairman Sohn also pointed out, "Institutional supplements are necessary to restore the balance of power between labor and management for the successful implementation of the core ILO conventions that came into effect in Korea this April."

Domestically, since April, three core ILO conventions?the Forced Labour Convention No. 29, the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention No. 87, and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention No. 98?have had the same effect as domestic law.

Chairman Sohn emphasized, "Just as the ratified core conventions strengthened union rights, labor laws should also improve countervailing rights through legislation allowing replacement workers during strikes, removing employer penalties for unfair labor practices, and prohibiting union occupation of workplaces during labor disputes." He continued, "To advance Korea’s labor-management relations swiftly, the diverse positions of labor and management parties must be balanced and considered."

The current ILO General Assembly, held from the 30th of last month until the 11th of this month, is attended by labor, management, and government representatives from 187 member countries to discuss the implementation status of conventions and recommendations, the selection of core conventions, and the establishment of international labor standards.

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