Sohn Kyungshik at ILO General Assembly: "Cooperation for Growth and Integration Is the Responsibility of Labor, Management, and Government"

Speech Delivered as Korea's Business Representative
at the International Labour Organization General Assembly on June 9 (Local Time)

Kyunghwan Sohn, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, emphasized tripartite cooperation for growth and integration during his speech at the International Labour Organization (ILO) General Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 9, 2025 (local time).

Representing Korea's business community at the 113th ILO General Assembly, Chairman Sohn stated, "Labor, management, and government must actively cooperate in responding to the rapidly changing industrial restructuring and transformations in the nature of work." He further stressed, "In particular, cooperation toward growth and social integration for future generations is the responsibility and duty of all three parties."

Chairman Sohn continued, "The future of the labor market lies in expanding diversity and autonomy," and requested, "Rather than regulating labor markets and industrial relations with uniform standards, I hope the ILO will take into balanced consideration the realities of each country's labor market and the diverse perspectives of labor, management, and government."

He described the current economic situation as an "unprecedented complex crisis" and highlighted the direction and challenges that global labor, management, and government must address. Chairman Sohn noted, "The uncertainty of the global economy and escalating geopolitical conflicts are seriously threatening sustainable growth and social integration." He also mentioned, "Rapid technological advancements and the climate crisis are additional challenges that labor, management, and government must jointly tackle."

He went on to say, "The development of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and automation has brought about rapid changes in industrial structures and the labor market." While new industries are growing and new jobs are being created, he expressed concern that "one in five young people worldwide remains unemployed and is not receiving education or training."

Kyunghwan Sohn, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation. Provided by KEF

Chairman Sohn emphasized the role of businesses as the main drivers of economic growth and job creation, and called for bold regulatory reforms and government support. He stressed, "Rigid and uniform regulations that hinder corporate investment and employment must be decisively improved." He added, "Labor and management should be able to autonomously utilize flexible working hours and establish a performance-based wage system that suits the changing business environment and labor market."

After his speech, Chairman Sohn met with Gilbert Houngbo, Director-General of the ILO, to exchange views on labor market issues in Korea. He also met with Roberto Suarez Santos, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE); Matthias Thorns, representative of the ILO Employers’ Group; and Tan Hee Teck, Chairman of the Singapore National Employers Federation, agreeing to strengthen international cooperation on global employment and labor issues.

The 113th ILO General Assembly is being held in Geneva, Switzerland, from June 2 to June 13, 2025. Representatives of labor, management, and government from 187 member countries are gathering to discuss the implementation status of member states' conventions and recommendations, the establishment of international labor standards related to the platform economy and biological hazards, and the promotion of transition to formal employment. Korea's tripartite representatives include Chairman Sohn, Kim Minseok, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, and Yang Kyungsu, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

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