The Small Business Agency has organized a forum to discuss the legalization of collective rights and bargaining rights for small businesses.
On June 16, the agency announced that it held a policy forum the previous day at the National Assembly in Seoul focused on these issues.
The forum was attended by over 20 participants, including lawmakers from the Democratic Party, representatives from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Fair Trade Commission, and various small business associations such as the Small Business Federation and the National Franchise Owners Association.
Attendees shared insights on the necessity of strengthening negotiation rights for small businesses, emphasizing the importance of guaranteeing collective and bargaining rights. The agency and the Law Research Institute also provided updates on the progress of legalizing collective bargaining rights, proposed amendments to related laws, and the current status of legislative reviews by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Fair Trade Commission.
In Tae-yeon, the head of the Small Business Agency, stated, "Despite being a key economic player, small businesses often struggle to secure adequate negotiation power during transactions. I hope this forum will serve as a foundation for protecting the legitimate rights of small businesses and enhancing their negotiation capabilities."
Earlier, the President also expressed support for ensuring collective and bargaining rights for small businesses.
Lee Jae-myung, the President, stated during a meeting with the leadership of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions on April 10, "Small businesses should be allowed to engage in collective bargaining, and at the very least, their right to organize should be recognized. Just as workers are guaranteed their three labor rights (the right to organize, the right to bargain collectively, and the right to take collective action), small businesses should also be granted the right to unite."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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