Kim Ji-hyung, chair of the Economic and Social Labor Commission, emphasized the need to strengthen representation to reflect the voices of workers outside labor unions.
During a national audit session of the Climate Energy Environment Labor Committee on October 16, Kim responded to Democratic Party lawmaker Eo Gi-goo's inquiry about the participation of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in social dialogue, stating, "I had high expectations this time, but there are some challenges."
The issue of representation within the commission was also raised. Eo pointed out that the unionization rate in South Korea is around 13%, questioning who would represent workers in small businesses and non-regular jobs.
Kim remarked, "I believe the issue of representation in social dialogue is a task that needs to be addressed promptly and significantly," adding that efforts are being made institutionally and through various measures to enhance representation.
He further explained, "While there are limitations, there are currently separate committees representing youth, women, and non-regular workers."
Eo urged that while multiple committees operate within the commission, they must lead to tangible outcomes. He stressed the need to improve the representation and operational methods of social dialogue rather than merely increasing the number of committees.
In response, Kim stated, "I will take your comments to heart."
Regarding 'Social Dialogue 2.0,' Kim emphasized the need to move beyond the limitations of existing social dialogue and discuss the roles and responsibilities of each party involved.
He noted, "Until now, social dialogue among labor, management, and government has revolved around whether to address certain issues. Now, we need to focus on what roles each party should play and discuss their responsibilities."
On the issue of labor market polarization, he added, "I will strive to facilitate deeper discussions to resolve the polarization issue."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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