KCTU Returns to 'Social Dialogue' After 26 Years

Return After Withdrawal in 1999
KCTU Decides to Join National Assembly-Led Social Dialogue After 26 Years

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has decided to participate in the social dialogue led by the National Assembly. This marks the first time in 26 years since the KCTU withdrew from the Tripartite Commission (now the Economic, Social and Labor Council) in 1999.

On September 3, the KCTU held a Central Committee meeting at the main auditorium of Mapo-gu Office in Seoul and put the agenda of participating in the "National Assembly Social Dialogue" to a vote. Out of 355 committee members, 261 were present, and with 142 voting in favor, the motion passed by a majority.

Logo of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

The social dialogue led by the National Assembly is a tripartite dialogue body that National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik has been working to establish. Speaker Woo proposed participation in a National Assembly-centered tripartite dialogue body in August last year, after the presidential Economic, Social and Labor Council failed to fulfill its role.

The KCTU has boycotted the tripartite commission since February 1999, when it withdrew in protest against restructuring at public enterprises and large corporations. In 2005, the leadership attempted to discuss returning to the tripartite dialogue, but the discussion was ultimately scrapped due to opposition from hardliners.

In June 2018, under the Moon Jae-in administration, the KCTU's participation in social dialogue fell through in protest against the minimum wage review. In July 2020, the KCTU even drafted a tripartite agreement to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, but internal opposition prevented the agreement from being finalized just 15 minutes before its joint announcement.

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