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Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Labor minister nominee says Korea should reduce work hours
Kim reaffirms support for Yellow Envelope Law, calls it 'non-negotiable' Kim Young-hoon, President Lee Jae Myung's nominee for minister of employment and labor, pledged to push forward key labor reforms, including the 4.5-day workweek, an extension of the retirement age, and revisions to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act, a proposal known as the Yellow Envelope Law. 'These are the paths we must take,' Kim told reporters outside the Labor Ministry's Seoul regional office, where he began preparations for his National Assembly confirmation hearing. 'Reducing working hours through a 4.5-day workweek or extending the retirement age are the only tools that can overcome crises such as the digital transition, population decline, aging society and labor shortages.' While emphasizing the need for reform, Kim clarified that 'no policy will be enforced simply based on ideology or justification,' promising to consider challenges businesses may face and to pursue change through labor-management-government dialogue. He identified the fragmentation of the labor market as the most urgent challenge. 'Whereas the focus used to be on permanent versus temporary employment, now it's about an increasingly segmented workforce,' Kim said. 'Unifying this fragmented landscape aligns with the Lee administration's vision of growth and inclusion.' Highlighting the need for broader labor protections, Kim stressed support for precarious workers who fall outside legal coverage. 'Safeguarding the right to work for our ordinary neighbors unprotected by the law is a top priority,' he said. On Wednesday, Kim reiterated his strong commitment to revising Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, stating it is 'not a matter of choice, but the path we must take.' Kim emphasized the need to institutionalize bargaining structures for fragmented labor sectors. 'If the government fails to support negotiations across diverse labor groups, it is abandoning its responsibility,' he said. 'The law mandates that the government assist and facilitate such negotiations — this amendment is one method of doing that.' The Yellow Envelope Law, long championed by labor groups, seeks to expand the definition of an employer to include parent companies, allowing subcontractor unions to negotiate directly with principal firms. It also aims to restrict excessive damage claims filed against striking workers. Business circles have pushed back, arguing it could encourage illegal strikes. The controversy dates back to May 2009, when unionized workers of SsangYong Motor Co. staged a strike to oppose layoffs. Five years later, the Supreme Court declared the strike illegal and ordered the workers to pay 4.7 billion won ($3.6 million) in compensation to the company and the state. Civic activists then delivered yellow envelopes with donations to support the SsangYong workers, raising the need to amend the trade union law in favor of striking workers. The revision has since been called the Yellow Envelope Law. Asked if he plans to engage further with business leaders on the issue, Kim said he has not formed any specific plans or positions. On social dialogue, Kim said it remains a crucial tool for resolving conflict-ridden issues across Korean society. 'Negotiation is harder than striking, but there's no alternative to negotiation,' he added. A veteran labor leader and until this week a Korea Railroad Corporation train engineer, Kim has held key posts including head of the railway union and chair of the KCTU. He supported Lee's labor pledges during both the 2022 and 2025 presidential campaigns and officially submitted his retirement notice to Korail on Monday.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Train driver's rise to South Korea's cabinet gets mixed reaction
Mr Kim Young-hoon is set to become the country's first blue-collar worker to head the Ministry of Employment and Labour. PHOTO: EPA-EFE SEOUL - When South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's Cabinet picks were unveiled on June 23 afternoon, Mr Kim Young-hoon was in the driver's seat — literally. The 57-year-old train driver, who was operating a train between Gimcheon and Busan with his phone turned off, says he did not learn of his historic nomination until an hour after the news broke. Only after completing his shift and stepping off the train in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, did Mr Kim hear from colleagues that he had been tapped as South Korea's next labour minister, he told Yonhap. The nomination marks a milestone: Mr Kim is set to become the country's first blue-collar worker to head the Ministry of Employment and Labour. His selection by the liberal president has drawn both praise and scepticism, highlighting the growing debate over labour representation at the top levels of policymaking. Mr Kim also brings a decade of experience in labour activism. He led the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) from 2010 to 2012, during the administration of former President Lee Myung-bak, a conservative businessman-turned-politician. The KCTU is the largest labour group in Korea, representing some 1.2 million workers. Known for its combative stance, the KCTU has frequently clashed with conservative governments, staging nationwide strikes and sit-in protests over labour rights and policy disputes. In the past, some of its strikes have also involved violence. Though he has to go through a confirmation hearing, Mr Kim is the first-ever KCTU member nominated for the role of labour minister. Since the Ministry of Employment and Labour was established in 2010, labour ministers have typically chosen from among government officials, administrators, professors and legislators. The public reaction was a mixed bag, ranging from online congratulations to deep distrust regarding the nominee's KCTU, blue-collar background. Mr Jang Seong-cheol, a political commentator and a former aide to the conservative People Power Party, questioned whether Mr Kim could manage his administrative duties effectively regardless of his career in a local radio show 'Kim Hyun Jung's News Show' on June 24. 'Managing the administrative affairs in a ministry is a serious responsibility. And there's a real risk of being surrounded and swayed by bureaucrats,' Mr Jang said. 'And if Mr Kim strongly believes the Labour Ministry should be more pro-labour and focused on creating policies favorable to workers, he might appoint those who fully share his vision. But this could lead to serious conflict between the minister's office and the ministry itself,' he added. Representative Song Eon-seog, floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, criticised Mr Kim's nomination, warning that it signals the start of the KCTU's political agenda seeping into government policy. The presidential office said that Mr Kim was nominated as a figure who has represented workers. 'We expect him to play a key role in strengthening the rights of working people by working with different issues such as industrial accidents, the 'Yellow Envelope Law' and a 4.5-day workweek system,' said Mr Kang Hoon-sik, the chief of staff to the president, in a briefing on June 23. On June 23, the KCTU and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, South Korea's other major labour group, lambasted the Labour Ministry for failing to represent the voices of workers, fueling conflict, and turning a blind eye to widespread discrimination in the workplace. 'Lee's government must abandon the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's anti-labour policies and pursue a major shift in state affairs to guarantee labour rights. The union expects the labour minister nominee to fully recognize the pressing tasks of our time and to faithfully fulfill his duties as the Labour Minister in guaranteeing workers' rights,' the KCTU said in an official statement. The FKTU also urged Mr Kim not to rely on political parties' stances, economic reasoning or bureaucratic minds. The union expressed its hopes for the labour minister nominee to pursue meaningful progress through social dialogue and consensus between workers, management and government. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
