The government is set to begin discussions on revising laws and regulations to implement the International Labour Organization (ILO) Platform Labor Convention in a manner suited to domestic realities.
On August 18, the Ministry of Employment and Labor held a forum titled 'The Significance of the ILO Platform Labor Convention and Future Tasks' at the Bank Hall in Seoul. The forum aimed to explore the implications of the 'Convention on Quality Jobs in the Platform Economy,' adopted by the ILO in June, and to discuss policy directions for protecting workers in a changing labor environment influenced by artificial intelligence (AI) and the expansion of the platform economy.
During the forum, Namgung Jun, a researcher at the Korea Labor Institute, highlighted that the establishment of independent international labor standards to protect platform workers is a key aspect of the convention. He stated, 'Since the convention allows for flexibility to consider the labor market and institutional situations of each country, we need to establish specific protection measures through the revision of laws and regulations that fit our domestic circumstances.'
Professor Park Gwi-cheon from Ewha Womans University assessed that existing laws have limitations in encompassing new forms of labor. He suggested, 'We need to establish a basic framework to protect the rights of various labor providers, including platform workers, through the 'Basic Law on Workers' Rights.' He also noted that continuously improving individual laws and regulations in line with the convention's provisions, such as expanding social insurance coverage, is a practical approach.
The discussion was moderated by Jeong Heung-jun, a professor at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, and included labor law and social policy experts, as well as field representatives, who deliberated on institutional improvements for the protection of platform workers. Participants expressed agreement that platform workers are often left in the gaps of social safety nets and discussed ways to effectively implement the ILO convention's intent within domestic conditions.
Minister of Labor Kim Young-hoon emphasized, 'Throughout history, there have always been individuals in labor rights blind spots, from child laborers during the industrial era to atypical workers in the era of transformation.' He stressed, 'In this era of transformation, the first thing we must focus on is ultimately the people.'
He added, 'To move toward a society where all workers are respected, we will seek opinions on what measures are suitable for the current and future labor market while respecting the spirit of the ILO Platform Convention. We will ensure that no one is excluded from basic rights due to different forms of labor and will faithfully reflect the discussed opinions in our policies to create a society where all workers are respected.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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