President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the need to expand productive public jobs and jobs for senior citizens, while stressing the necessity of universalizing "appropriate wages" rather than minimum wages in the public sector.

During a closed-door meeting of senior secretaries and aides presided over at Cheong Wa Dae today (October 22), President Lee stated, "Expanding productive public jobs is our government's basic policy direction," pointing out the need for exchanging opinions and collaborating with local governments.

He also called for developing diverse employment initiatives, including the expansion of jobs for the elderly, Senior Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

At the meeting, President Lee also raised the question, "Is it not time to universalize appropriate wages, rather than the minimum wage, in the public sector?" and checked the progress of a review on a fair allowance that he had previously ordered the Ministry of Employment and Labor to examine.

Earlier in April, during the first plenary session of the National Economic Advisory Council, President Lee pointed out, "Since regular workers receive stability as compensation, non-regular workers should receive additional compensation for instability, meaning their pay should be higher under identical conditions."

In response, the Ministry of Employment and Labor had drawn up and reported to President Lee the "Measures to Improve the Treatment of Non-regular Workers in the Public Sector," which includes paying a fair allowance in the public sector.

President Lee also reviewed three key social policies at today's meeting: ▲ the National Jobs Project, ▲ accessible finance for ordinary people, and ▲ guaranteeing housing rights for the public.

He stressed, "This is no longer an era where a single policy is applied to the entire population; we must examine to whom, what, and how to provide, and pursue tailored policies in the right places at the right times."

Regarding inclusive financial policies for working-class citizens, President Lee also said, "We must preemptively prepare for rising loan interest rates for ordinary people," adding, "The government must provide breathing room for ordinary people to survive and serve as their final safety net."

(Photo: Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps, Yonhap News)