Kim Min-seok, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, noted that it is difficult to apply the 'four-day workweek' and 'four-and-a-half-day workweek,' which the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party have advocated as presidential campaign promises, uniformly to all corporations.
During a press briefing held at the Government Sejong Convention Center on the 7th, Vice Minister Kim said, "How many corporations can actually survive if the four-day and four-and-a-half-day workweeks are implemented?"
He stated, "If working hours are reduced while wages remain the same, then hourly wages will rise, overtime and night shift pay will increase, and indirect costs will also rise," adding that "it is also necessary to consider how much financial support will be needed from the government."
He also expressed a negative stance regarding the 'continuous employment' issue, including the extension of the retirement age. The following day on the 8th, the Continued Employment Committee of the Economic and Social Council will present a public interest proposal related to the extension of the retirement age. Vice Minister Kim stated, "We must assess the content presented by the Economic and Social Council and make a judgment, but it is unlikely that the next government will reach a conclusion easily."
Vice Minister Kim added, "Discussions on extending the retirement age must deeply consider issues that conflict with youth employment," and said, "The hiring market was not good in the second half of last year, and it is likely to be even more devastated this year. Young people tend to aim for positions in public institutions and large corporations rather than small and medium-sized enterprises, so I wonder if it makes sense to extend the retirement age for those places."
Regarding the mandatory participation in retirement pensions that the Ministry of Employment and Labor has stated it will pursue, Vice Minister Kim mentioned, "The direction the ministry aims for is that it 'must be made mandatory,' but the key issue is how well it operates in practice on the ground," adding, "It is essential to discuss with the financial authorities how much financial and tax support can be secured. We are in discussions with the Ministry of Economy and Finance."
He also emphasized the need for improving the return on retirement pensions and discussed the 'funding plan' in which the government would manage the retirement pensions currently operated by various financial companies, saying, "There are concerns that including the National Pension would lead to a 'collapse,' but this issue needs social discussion, and it must be taken to a point where the labor and management parties can decide," adding, "The most critical aspect is to increase the revenue. We are considering ways to enhance our internal expertise."
Amid Yeosu being designated as an 'employment crisis area,' regarding whether support for employment retention subsidies would be provided to regions like Andong and Uiseong, which suffered damage from a large-scale forest fire, he stated, "Based on objective quantitative indicators, Andong and Uiseong would have a hard time receiving employment retention subsidies; however, we believe that businesses completely burned down are suffering the same damage as those in employment crisis areas," adding, "We are preparing a plan to provide support equivalent to employment crisis areas through guideline amendments."
Regarding the possibility of transitioning the currently pilot project of foreign domestic workers in the Philippines to a full operation, he remarked, "It seems that the conclusion would be difficult due to financial issues."
Additionally, Vice Minister Kim commented on the case of the late Oh Yoanna, saying, "The special labor supervision by MBC is still ongoing, and the results of MBC's own investigation do not seem positive. We are currently looking into other job types in the broadcasting department, and due to issues related to the bereaved families, it seems that this will take some more time." Regarding the preferential hiring allegations of the daughter of Supreme Prosecutor Shim Woo-jung, he noted that, "A complaint has been filed with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and we are reviewing it," adding that, "Subsequent investigations by the parties involved still need to be conducted, but attendance has not yet been completed."