Son Kyungshik: "Solutions for Extending Retirement Age and 4.5-Day Workweek Should Be Developed Through Social Dialogue"

Meeting with Kim Ji-hyung, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council

Sohn Kyungshik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, emphasized that solutions to labor policy issues being pursued by the current administration, such as extending the retirement age and implementing a 4.5-day workweek, should be developed through social dialogue.

Sohn Kyungshik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation (left), shakes hands with Kim Jihyung, the newly appointed Chairman of the Economic and Social Labor Council, who visited the Korea Employers Federation on the 11th. Korea Employers Federation

On the 11th, during a meeting with Kim Jihyung, the newly appointed Chairman of the Economic and Social Labor Council, who visited the Korea Employers Federation to pay a courtesy call, Chairman Sohn stated, "In order to overcome the crises and challenges facing our economy and to secure new growth engines, labor, management, and government must come together, pool their capabilities, and seek forward-looking solutions."

Chairman Sohn continued, "Although social dialogue among labor, management, and government has faced criticism for its repeated interruptions and resumptions, it has played a crucial role in overcoming national crises such as the foreign exchange crisis and the financial crisis." He added, "However, it is regrettable and unfortunate that the recently passed amendment to the Trade Union Act, which represents a significant change that could cause tremendous confusion in labor-management relations, including the collective bargaining order, was unilaterally pushed forward without consultation among labor, management, and government through social dialogue."

In particular, Chairman Sohn pointed out, "While the labor environment is changing rapidly, outdated labor market legislation is failing to keep pace, leading to a decline in economic vitality and a decrease in quality jobs. Our labor-management relations, which are evaluated as being among the worst in the world, have become a major obstacle to national competitiveness."

He went on to say, "As the industrial environment undergoes fundamental changes, our greatest task is to establish a labor market that balances flexibility and stability and to foster reasonable labor-management relations. Given Chairman Kim's efforts to resolve contentious labor-management issues rationally in both the judiciary and various sectors of society, I expect that a fair and reasonable forum for dialogue will be established."

Sohn Kyungshik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation (left), is seen conversing with Kim Jihyung, the newly appointed Chairman of the Economic and Social Labor Council, who visited the Federation on the 11th. Korea Employers Federation

He further emphasized, "Major labor policy issues such as extending the retirement age and implementing a 4.5-day workweek are not simply about increasing the retirement age or reducing working hours, but are matters related to the overall labor market, including wage structures and employment rigidity. I ask that you strive to ensure that social dialogue reflects the positions of both labor and management in a balanced manner and that solutions can be proposed for the benefit of the public and future generations."