The first labor-management-industry council in the shipbuilding sector has been established. This social dialogue platform aims to address industry issues such as workforce shortages, the dual structure of subcontracting, and industrial safety, signaling significant changes in labor relations within the shipbuilding industry.
The Korean Metal Workers' Union announced the launch of the shipbuilding labor-management-industry council at a ceremony held at the Seoul Press Center on July 13.
The council includes representatives from labor groups such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Korean Metal Workers' Union, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, and the Shipbuilding Industry Labor Union Alliance, as well as major shipbuilders like the Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries, and Hanwha Ocean. Officials from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Economic, Social and Labor Council are also participating. Additionally, over 20 shipbuilding experts recommended by labor, management, and government will serve on the operational and working committees.
The council will focus on discussing key issues facing the shipbuilding industry, including workforce shortages, industrial safety, improvements to the subcontracting structure, and workforce training. Labor representatives emphasized the need for on-site opinions to be actively reflected in the council's operations.
The shipbuilding labor-management-industry council plans to keep discussions open on the agendas that labor, management, and government are concerned about through its working committee. The Metal Workers' Union expressed its commitment to ensuring that pressing issues and problems arising in the field are addressed within the council.
Park Sang-man, chairman of the Metal Workers' Union, stated, "I thank the government and employers for their future cooperation in resolving the widespread labor shortage in the shipbuilding industry, dismantling the subcontracting structure, and eliminating workplace safety risks. It is essential to emphasize that the development of the shipbuilding industry has been based on the experience and capabilities of skilled workers."
He added, "It is crucial to incorporate the opinions of on-site workers into the government's ongoing MASGA project. I hope that discussions on measures to protect workers during economic downturns, policies for migrant workers, primary negotiations, and the regularization of safety-related jobs will take place within the council."
Kim Jun-young, chairman of the Metal Workers' Federation, also stressed the need to improve the dual structure of subcontracting and establish effective safety measures to create a sustainable shipbuilding industry where workers can take pride in their jobs.
Meanwhile, the Metal Workers' Union emphasized that the establishment of this shipbuilding council should lead to the formation of similar labor-management-industry councils in other manufacturing sectors, such as automotive, steel, and electronics. Previously, workers in the automotive, steel, and electronics sectors had conveyed their demands to the government.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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