① Populist labor-related promises from the opposition parties likely to burden enterprises The three opposition parties each made similar promises leading up to the general elections, and included a youth employment quota for the private sector, introduction of a job-seeking… Continue Reading
1. Tripartite agreement on need for structural reforms of the labor market Labor, management and the government reached an agreement on the principles and direction of structural reforms of the labor market in December 2014. Following this agreement, the… Continue Reading
President Park Geun-hye revealed her strong will for labor reform in the second half of her administration. The Saenuri Party also plans to provide active support for labor reform through establishment of a Special Committee for Structural Reform of the… Continue Reading
On 13 September, a tripartite agreement was reached on structural reform of the labor market by 4 tripartite representatives – KIM Dae-hwan (Chairman of the Economic and Social Development Commission,), KIM Dong-man (Chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions),… Continue Reading
As in 2014, collective bargaining for this year seems to be headed for difficult times. The number of labor disputes in 2014 jumped to 111 from 72 in the previous year, and illegal industrial actions and political interventions on issues… Continue Reading
Mandatory extension of retirement age to 60 has become reality. According to the Act on Prohibition of Age Discrimination in Employment & Aged Employment Promotion (hereinafter the Employment Promotion for the Aged Act) revised in April 2013, retirement age is… Continue Reading
In terms of industrial relations, 2014 was a tough year in Korea. At the beginning of 2014, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) staged all-out strikes, accusing the government of breaking into KCTU offices to suppress railway worker strikes.… Continue Reading