"Against 'Privileged Unions'" Ruling Party, "Introduce Sanggyeong Allowance" Opposition... Political Sphere Focuses Elsewhere on Labor Day

Park Kwang-on "We Must Shift to a People-Centered National Policy"
Yoo Sang-beom "I Will Respect the Value of Labor"

On May 1st, Labor Day, political circles, regardless of party affiliation, emphasized their commitment to guaranteeing labor rights. However, the Democratic Party of Korea focused on worker safety, while the People Power Party stressed the need to prevent unfair practices by certain labor unions.

Park Kwang-on, the newly appointed floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated in a press release that day that he would promote universal employment insurance, institutionalize sickness benefits, and realize a four-day workweek. Park said, "As the public observes the 133rd Labor Day, they are asking more than ever about the role of the state," pointing out that "cruel social deaths continue due to inadequate safety nets, death from overwork, power harassment, and low wages."

He added, "The national governance policy must be fundamentally shifted to a people-centered approach," and said, "We must take responsibility to ensure that labor laws function properly in workplaces by effectively reducing the world's longest working hours, and addressing death from overwork, workplace bullying, illegal overtime, and unfair disciplinary actions."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also pledged, "The Democratic Party will stand with all working citizens," promising, "We will do our best to establish equal pay for equal work, universal employment insurance, and institutionalize sickness benefits that allow people to rest when they are ill."

Furthermore, he stated, "We will boldly move toward a 4.5-day workweek," and added, "We will prepare measures to realize a four-day workweek for parents who want it among dual-income couples raising elementary school children."

Kwon Chil-seung, the Democratic Party’s chief spokesperson, said in a written briefing, "We will stand together against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s relentless labor oppression," and added, "We will block the 69-hour workweek system and open the door to a 4.5-day workweek." He criticized the government’s labor policies and emphasized the need to improve harsh damage claims against labor unions.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yoo Sang-beom, the chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a commentary, "Labor has been the cornerstone supporting South Korea until now and will be the hope leading the country forward," promising, "The Yoon government and the People Power Party respect the value of labor and will do their best to create quality jobs where workers can work freely and to establish a safe working environment."

He continued, "However, recently, the behavior of some privileged unions has tarnished the meaning of labor and even stained the name of workers," criticizing, "They lead illegal and mob-rule strikes unrelated to 'workers’ rights,' maintain ‘employment inheritance’ to preserve their privileges, and frequently discriminate against and harass non-union members."

Yoo emphasized, "To create a country where the value of sweat is recognized, benefits should not go only to certain groups," and stated, "As President Yoon said, 'Labor-management rule of law is the way to prevent unnecessary disputes and conflicts and truly respect the value of labor.'"

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