The government is inviting the public to propose a new name for the 'K-Labor Welfare Council,' aimed at supporting workers such as platform laborers and freelancers who fall outside existing labor welfare systems. The initiative seeks to raise awareness of the new labor welfare support framework through public participation as it prepares a detailed establishment plan by the end of the year.
On November 9, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that it will accept name suggestions for the K-Labor Welfare Council until November 20. This council is part of the government's efforts to create a new support system for workers who are inadequately protected under existing employee-centered regulations, especially as the digital and platform economy expands.
The government previously stated in its second-half work report that it would establish the K-Labor Welfare Council within the year. This initiative aims to comprehensively support approximately 8.69 million non-standard workers, including those in special employment and platform jobs, in areas such as workplace welfare, skill development, and retirement.
Specific support functions under consideration include debt recovery, protection of labor rights, vacation and welfare support, vocational training, career management, and retirement savings. The plan is to supplement the existing social safety net, which is primarily designed around traditional employment relationships, to better support workers in diverse employment situations.
The name proposal initiative is designed to encapsulate these policy directions and values in a name that is easily understood by the public. Anyone interested in the welfare and rights of workers can participate by submitting their suggested names and reasons via an online Naver form by November 20.
The selected name will be announced at a town hall meeting scheduled for December 1. More details about the proposal process can be found on the Ministry's official website.
Earlier, on August 21, the Ministry launched a preparatory task force for the establishment of the Labor Welfare Council. This group includes 14 experts from various fields such as law, labor relations, employment safety nets, and taxation, as well as field experts involved in supporting non-standard workers, who have been discussing the council's functions, organization, decision-making structure, and funding strategies.
The Ministry plans to gather opinions from stakeholders, including labor organizations by occupation, between November and December, and will develop a concrete roadmap based on this feedback. The specific operational methods and funding strategies for the council will be finalized through future discussions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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