Yoon's First Step in Labor Reform... Official Launch of the Future Labor Market Research Association

12 Experts Including Professors Kwon Sunwon and Jeong Seungguk Participate
4-Month Blueprint for Working Hours and Wage System Reform
Health Experts Included Amid Overwork Society Concerns
Minister Lee Jeongsik: "Reform Can No Longer Be Delayed"

President Yoon Suk-yeol arrived at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul on the morning of the 15th and is answering questions from reporters. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The 'Future Labor Market Research Group,' which will focus on discussing the reform of working hours and wage systems?priority tasks of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's labor market reform?officially launched on the 18th. Over the next four months, the research group plans to draft the blueprint for labor reform centered on easing the 52-hour workweek and dismantling the seniority-based wage system.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it held a kickoff meeting for the research group on the morning of the same day at the Royal Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul, attended by Minister Lee Jeong-sik and research group members. The group includes 12 experts, such as Kwon Soon-won, a professor in the Department of Business Administration at Sookmyung Women's University and public member secretary of the Minimum Wage Commission, and Jeong Seung-guk, a professor in the Department of Social Welfare at Joongang Seungga University who was active in the Presidential Transition Committee.

Regarding the composition of the members, the Ministry explained, "While expertise in working hours systems and wage structures was a basic requirement, we also included individuals well-versed in human resources, labor law, emerging scholars who can offer new perspectives, and health experts to discuss supplementary measures such as protecting workers' health rights, ensuring balanced discussions."

Over the next four months, the research group will intensively discuss institutional improvement plans and policy recommendations for labor reform. The recommendations produced by the group are expected to be reflected in actual policies later. The Ministry plans to facilitate site visits to companies so that the researchers can hear vivid voices from the field and also intends to hold forums or seminars involving the general public and labor-management stakeholders. The discussion process and results will be fully disclosed to the public.

The recommendations prepared by the research group are expected to focus on flexibilizing rigid working hours and wage systems to enhance companies' growth potential. Previously, the Ministry announced plans to ease the 52-hour workweek by changing the current extension of working hours, which allows up to 12 hours per week, to a 'monthly' management system. This change would allow companies to assign workers more than 60 hours per week when work is concentrated.

However, since this could recreate the 'overwork society' that labor circles are concerned about, the government plans to establish health protection measures such as guaranteeing 11 consecutive hours of rest between working days. To this end, the research group includes experts in related fields, such as Professor Kim In-a of Hanyang University Graduate School of Public Health and Professor Kim Gi-seon of Chungnam National University Law School, who served as a public member of the Economic, Social and Labor Council's Occupational Safety and Health Committee.

Regarding the wage system, the core is expected to shift from the current seniority-based system to one centered on job performance and achievements. President Yoon has emphasized that in an era of low growth and aging, the seniority-based wage system not only increases the burden on companies and reduces industrial competitiveness but is also perceived as unfair by young people and non-regular workers, necessitating reform.

Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, is announcing the "Position on the Prolonged Strike of the Subcontractor Union at Daewoo Shipbuilding" on the morning of the 14th at the briefing room of the Government Seoul Office Building.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the launch ceremony, Minister Lee Jeong-sik stressed, "The dual structure of the labor market, appearing between large and small businesses and between regular and non-regular workers, is holding back the economy," adding, "We can no longer delay reform." He said, "The rigid working hours system fails to meet the demands of workers and companies, and the seniority-based wage system lowers workers' motivation and imposes excessive burdens on companies."

He continued, "Last week, while reporting to the President on the Ministry of Employment and Labor's work, I presented labor market reform as a core priority task," adding, "We will also promptly begin consultations with the Economic, Social and Labor Council on additional reform tasks beyond working hours and wage systems and proceed with a sense of urgency."

Meanwhile, Minister Lee again labeled the strike by the subcontracted workers' union at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering as an 'illegal act,' pointing out, "The practice of trying to enforce demands through unfair means continues." He said, "Illegal acts, regardless of labor or management, can no longer be tolerated in our society," and stated, "Stop illegal acts and resolve issues through dialogue," urging once again.

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