The Economic, Social and Labor Council (ESLC) held the inauguration ceremony and the first plenary meeting of the 「Committee on the Development of Labor-Management Relations Systems」 in the Council's Main Conference Room on the 7th floor on the morning of May 29.

The 「Committee on the Development of Labor- Management Relations Systems」 was established to discuss directions for improving individual and collective labor-management relations laws and institutions and to develop institutional improvement measures for establishing a culture of mutual growth and cooperation in labor-management relations.

The Committee is chaired by Cho Seong-jae, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Labor Institute, and consists of a total of 15 members representing labor, management, government, and public interest groups. It will be operated for one year.

The Committee plans to give priority to the following agenda items: ▲follow-up discussions on the Working Hours Reduction Task Force, ▲follow-up discussions on strengthening the functions of the retirement pension system, ▲measures to improve the unfair labor practices system, and ▲measures to improve the paid time-off system for union activities.

During the preparatory process, members of the Committee agreed to continue discussing agenda items proposed by both labor and management in a sequential manner. The Committee is also expected to extend its operating period in the future as necessary.

In his congratulatory remarks, Chairman Kim Ji-hyung of the ESLC stated, “At a time when the labor market and industrial environment are changing rapidly, social dialogue on the sustainable development of labor-management relations systems is more important than ever. I hope the Committee members will combine their wisdom to help establish a culture of mutual growth and cooperation based on mutual trust and respect that goes beyond differences in position.”

In his opening remarks, Cho Seong-jae, Chairman of the Committee on the Development of Labor-Management Relations Systems, stated, “Issues such as working hours, retirement pensions, unfair labor practices, and the paid time-off system are key challenges directly related to the sustainability of our labor-management relations. I will do my utmost to ensure that this Committee serves not as a venue for unilaterally advancing the position of one side, but as a forum for social dialogue where participants can share their respective realities and concerns and seek reasonable points of agreement.”

Going forward, the Committee plans to explore solutions to its key agenda items through various meetings, including plenary meetings and intensive meetings on individual and collective labor-management relations.