[2022 National Audit] Minister Lee Jeong-sik: "Establishing a Dedicated Team to Support Root Industries Facing Labor Shortages"

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik is taking the oath as a witness at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor held at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City on the morning of the 5th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated that dedicated teams will be formed to comprehensively support recruitment in root industries that are constantly experiencing labor shortages.

Minister Lee said during his opening remarks at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee's audit of the Ministry of Employment and Labor held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 5th, "There is a mismatch between job openings and job seekers, with 230,000 vacant positions," emphasizing this point.

He explained, "For root industries and shipbuilding, which face constant labor shortages, dedicated teams will be organized to comprehensively support everything from improving employment conditions to recruitment support," adding, "We will also expand investments to nurture talent in advanced and digital fields."

Regarding youth, Minister Lee said that public and private sectors will collaborate to ensure that opportunities for career exploration and work experience are guaranteed from the schooling stage. For women, based on field conditions, plans include improving maternity protection systems and activating the household service market to prevent career interruptions.

Additionally, tailored reemployment support for the elderly and employment support for vulnerable groups such as fulfilling the mandatory employment of persons with disabilities will be carried out simultaneously.

Minister Lee also stated that labor market reforms pledged by President Yoon Seok-yeol will be implemented without delay.

He explained, "We will promptly take follow-up measures such as preparing legislation for tasks that have gained national consensus," and added, "Issues such as the dual structure problem confirmed through the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering incident and other challenges to be resolved will continue to be discussed through the Economic, Social, and Labor Council."

He continued, "Fair recruitment has become a key issue of our time," and said, "while enacting laws that resonate with youth and companies, we will establish recruitment order through strong corrective actions against illegal collective agreements."

Minister Lee stated, "In the process of implementing this legal order, we will establish principles for autonomous conflict resolution between labor and management, and respond strictly to illegal acts to create a labor-management culture of coexistence and solidarity."

He mentioned that a roadmap to reduce major industrial accidents to advanced country levels will be prepared within this month.

Minister Lee said, "We are currently gathering opinions from various groups including labor, management, and experts, and based on this, we will develop effective measures that reflect field realities," adding, "Furthermore, we will reorganize industrial safety-related laws and expand support for vulnerable and high-risk workplaces to enhance the effectiveness of industrial accident prevention."

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