Chairman Kim Ji-hyung of the Economic, Social and Labor Council visited the Federation of Korean Chemical Workers’ Unions (hereinafter referred to as the “FKCU”) under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) on February 24 and held a meeting with its executive leadership.
Established in 1959, the FKCU is a major industrial federation under the FKTU that seeks to enhance the economic and social status of workers and expand their rights amid a complex environment shaped by climate change and industrial restructuring driven by technological advancement. The federation operates 18 sectoral subcommittees reflecting the specific characteristics of various sub-sectors of the chemical industry, including pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, cement, and petrochemical, and has been working to establish response systems for major industrial accidents and strengthen industrial safety.
The meeting was arranged to share key issues faced by the chemical sector labor community during this period of complex and multiple transitions and to hear opinions on promoting multi-layered social dialogue to address regional and sectoral challenges.
Chairman Kim stated, “As complex and multiple transitions and industrial restructuring unfold simultaneously, the difficulties faced by the chemical industry are rapidly spreading to employment and regional economies as a whole.” He emphasized, “To overcome the current crisis, it is essential to seek common solutions through sufficient dialogue and a clear sharing of roles among stakeholders.”
He added, “Social dialogue must operate broadly not only at the central level but also at regional and sectoral levels,” stressing that “the activation of such multi-layered social dialogue will serve as a starting point for mitigating the shocks of industrial transition and laying the foundation for sustainable co-prosperity.”
Meanwhile, the Economic, Social and Labor Council plans to continue on-site, field-oriented social dialogue through meetings with affiliated organizations of the two major labor confederations.
