Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon stated that with the rise of non-traditional work, the number of individuals providing repetitive services has reached 8.69 million. He emphasized that the existing social safety net, designed around traditional employment relationships, fails to fully encompass these workers, making a robust safety net for non-traditional workers urgently needed.
During a national fiscal strategy meeting at the Blue House on July 13, Kim presented a report titled 'Strengthening a Reliable Social Safety Net for All Workers.'
He expressed concern that the current system does not reflect the changing employment patterns in the labor market, leading to increased disparities. Many labor providers are left without pay or face unfair treatment, often relying on civil lawsuits for redress. Additionally, many are excluded from social insurance programs such as employment and industrial accident insurance.
Kim stressed the need for society to transition to an inclusive safety net that prioritizes 'the act of working' rather than the type of employment or work method.
In response, the Ministry of Labor proposed five key investment areas: workplace security, welfare support, peace of mind, growth opportunities, and retirement security. These initiatives aim to protect basic rights through measures such as support for recovering unpaid wages, ensuring safe workplaces, and preventing harassment and sexual assault. The ministry also plans to establish a foundational law to safeguard the rights of workers.
The Basic Labor Welfare Act will be comprehensively revised into the Labor Welfare Basic Act to expand welfare support for labor providers and connect with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's vacation support program to guarantee the 'right to rest.' The scope of employment and industrial accident insurance will also be expanded to create a more comprehensive social insurance system.
To enhance the capabilities of labor providers, the ministry will promote the Tomorrow Learning Card, facilitating access to vocational training and career management for greater opportunities. Additionally, it will strengthen the Retirement Pension Plus program to encourage small businesses to enroll in individual retirement pension plans, supporting tailored asset formation for labor providers through the 'Together Savings Fund.'
Kim proposed the establishment of the 'K-Labor Council,' a self-sustaining mutual aid system based on a fundamental law for workers' rights, encompassing livelihood, welfare, and rights protection. He described it as a representative body for diverse citizens who cannot even form unions, aimed at fostering a community of mutual support.
He concluded that this initiative marks the first step in expanding the traditional employment-centered social safety net into a comprehensive safety net for all workers, emphasizing a future of labor that respects human dignity and embraces technological innovation in AI, ensuring no one is left behind.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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