The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises said on the 24th that it discussed issues related to employment and labor for small and medium enterprises, including the 52-hour workweek, with the new Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon.
Minister Kim Young-hoon visited the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises as his first visit to an economic organization after taking office. He was accompanied by Lee Jeong-han, head of the Employment Policy Office at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, Spokesperson Choi Hyun-seok, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-gwang, and Executive Vice Chairman Oh Gi-woong.
Chairman Kim Gi-moon proposed easing three major labor regulations for small and medium enterprises, including the 52-hour workweek, serious disaster punishment law, and minimum wage. He requested that the voices of the small and medium enterprise community be fully heard regarding the recently discussed 4.5-day workweek, amendments to the labor union law, and continued employment of older workers, and that policies be pursued in a way that minimizes side effects.
Chairman Kim said, "Labor policy is most important when labor and management coexist together," adding, "I expect that there will soon be a policy meeting where we can discuss with the small and medium enterprise community in depth."
Minister Kim noted, "There may be concerns that pro-labor means anti-business, but I will play a necessary role in the paradigm shift that pro-labor can be pro-business and pro-business can be pro-labor."
He added, "Although I am the Minister of Employment and Labor, I will work with the mindset of the Minister of SMEs and Startups," and added, "I hope to meet frequently and communicate in order to create a social atmosphere where the conditions for small and medium enterprises improve and workers in small and medium enterprises are respected and can work."