Vice Chairman of KCCI at ILO General Assembly: "Labor Flexibility Essential for Future Generations"

Dong-geun Lee, Executive Vice President of the Korea Employers Federation, said on the 12th (local time), "Labor, management, and government must relinquish vested rights guaranteed under past systems and establish a virtuous cycle of sustainable growth and job creation for future generations."

Vice President Lee delivered a speech representing the Korean business community at the 111th International Labour Organization (ILO) General Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland. This General Assembly, held in person for the first time in four years, was attended by labor, management, and government representatives from 187 member countries to review the implementation status of conventions and recommendations and discuss various labor issues.

Lee Dong-geun, Executive Vice President of the Korea Employers Federation, is delivering a speech at the 111th International Labour Organization General Assembly held in Switzerland on the 12th (local time).

Vice President Lee stated, "The global number of unemployed people has reached 270 million, and one in five young people is not participating in employment, jobs, or training," adding, "The pandemic has accelerated changes in working methods, and technological advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are rapidly transforming industrial structures. This presents both challenges and opportunities for labor, management, and government."

He continued, "Labor market flexibility, which improves rigid regulations that hinder growth and innovation, is an urgent and essential task," emphasizing, "We must actively foster sustainable companies and support the creation of quality jobs."

He also drew a line regarding domestic labor's claims of government labor oppression. He said, "Compared to competing countries, Korea experiences a higher number of workdays lost due to strikes, and labor-related laws and systems lag behind global standards," adding, "The claim of government labor oppression by the Korean labor sector is not true, and there is a growing social sentiment that cannot sympathize with the labor sector's radical strikes and illegal activities." He further stated, "The Korean government is establishing labor rule of law based on laws and principles."

On the afternoon of the 8th, Ryu Ki-jung, Executive Director of the Korea Employers Federation, a user committee member (left), and Ryu Ki-seop, Secretary General of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, a labor committee member, attended the 3rd plenary meeting held at the Minimum Wage Commission meeting room in the Government Complex Sejong, Sejong City.

Regarding the ongoing revision of the Labor Union Act in the National Assembly, he said, "Expanding the scope of employers and the concept of labor disputes without clear standards and restricting companies' rights to claim damages for illegal acts by unions, if forced without sufficient consultation and agreement among labor, management, and government, will damage the industrial ecosystem and exacerbate confusion in the industrial field." He also urged the ILO, "We hope that the ILO will consider the diverse positions of the parties involved in a balanced manner so that Korea's labor market and labor-management relations can develop based on the rule of law."

Before his speech that day, Vice President Lee met with Roberto Suarez Santos, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), to convey the business community's position on Korean labor issues and request support. Secretary-General Santos reportedly said, "Korean companies hold a very important position in the international business community, and the IOE will represent the positions of Korean companies and the business community together with the Korea Employers Federation," according to the Korea Employers Federation.

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