▲ Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon delivers opening remarks at the launch ceremony of the Shipbuilding Labor-Management-Government Consultative Body held at the Press Center in Jung-gu on July 13.
Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon announced today (July 13), "I propose the establishment of a 'K-Labor Chamber' as an organization to represent the interests of diverse workers who are unable to form labor unions, so that they can live together."
Minister Kim made the proposal during the National Fiscal Strategy Meeting presided over by President Lee Jae-myung at the Presidential Office, explaining that it is "the first step toward expanding the social safety net, which was built around traditional employment relationships, into a 'social safety mat for all who work'."
The plan involves first enacting a 'Basic Act on the Rights of Workers' to guarantee the rights of all labor providers, including platform workers and freelancers. Based on this, the K-Labor Chamber would be created as a self-help mutual aid system to address issues related to livelihood, welfare, and the protection of rights and interests.
Furthermore, he stated that the current 'Framework Act on Workers' Welfare,' which is based on traditional employment relationships, will be completely revised into a 'Framework Act on Labor Welfare' to support all individuals who provide labor in any form.
The introduction of a labor chamber is a system that President Lee proposed during his time as Governor of Gyeonggi Province and during his 2022 presidential campaign.
During the meeting, President Lee pointed out to Minister Kim, "Are there not differing opinions regarding the labor chamber?" and "It seems the labor sector will not be easily persuaded."
In response, Minister Kim replied, "It is true that there were differing opinions, such as concerns that establishing a labor chamber might lead to a decline in labor union organization rates."
However, Minister Kim emphasized the necessity of the plan, stating, "We are currently seeing the emergence of various types of atypical workers who cannot be explained by existing employment relationships, and it will not be easy to organize them into traditional labor unions. We are in a situation where workers without employers, such as freelancers, are spreading widely."
Minister Kim also stressed, "If we change the current 'Framework Act on Workers' Welfare' to a 'Framework Act on Labor Welfare,' we will need a delivery system for those who are not in traditional employment relationships," adding, "I will communicate and cooperate sufficiently with the labor sector."
He argued that there are 8.69 million people who earn income from personal services by repeatedly providing labor and receiving compensation, and that "we must transition to a social safety mat based on the very fact of 'working' rather than the form of employment or the way of working."
To this, President Lee said, "I hope you persuade and consult with them well."
Minister Kim also announced that he would enable atypical labor providers to receive social insurance benefits and would gradually expand the application of employment and industrial accident insurance to 1.6 million people who earn income from personal service businesses.
He added that he would also push for a tentative 'Together Mutual Aid' program, which encourages labor providers to join the small and medium-sized enterprise retirement pension fund with government support, to help them build retirement assets.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor stated that it would also pursue free legal aid for labor providers, the promotion of vacations for labor providers, and the introduction of childcare allowances.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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