(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Hyewon Han = Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon emphasized on the 27th that "social dialogue must be achieved" regarding the introduction of special labor provisions in the Ultra-Metropolitan Special Zone Act to support the promotion of mega projects.
Minister Kim responded to a question from Rep. Lee Jong-bae of the People's Power Party on whether the social dialogue between labor, management, and government to discuss the introduction of special provisions for labor in the Ultra-Metropolitan Special Zone Act is at a standstill during the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Labor by the National Assembly Climate, Energy, Environment, and Labor Committee, saying, "It is true that there are such concerns."
Minister Kim said, “Sustainable development is possible only when corporate productivity and workers’ health rights are harmonized,” and added, “In that respect, we will ensure that social dialogue progresses well.”
He added, "As a member of the State Council, I think there is no disagreement that mega projects that depend on the country's fate must succeed," and added, "Mega projects are a path no one has taken before, so it is a process of finding a solution."
However, Minister Kim did not confirm whether the key labor special provisions, such as the application of the 52-hour workweek exception for high-income professionals (white-collar exit) and the expansion of the period of use of fixed-term contracts, will be specified in the law or included in the enforcement ordinance.
When People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won asked him to answer whether the special labor provisions should be enacted into law or enforcement decree, Minister Kim only said, "Because social dialogue is currently underway, I will support legislation depending on the results."
He indirectly expressed his opinion on the point that the application of the 52-hour week exception violates the legal principle of working conditions specified in Article 32 of the Constitution.
Rep. Lee Yong-woo of the Democratic Party of Korea criticized, “It is unconstitutional to transfer the 40-hour workweek, additional allowances, breaks and holidays, etc., which are the basis of labor law, to individual written agreements with workers rather than laws, as it violates the legal principle of working conditions under the Constitution,” and Minister Kim responded, “I think such an argument is possible.”
Regarding the construction of a semiconductor production facility (fab), Minister Kim explained, "When it comes to semiconductors, you may only think about operators (production workers) or research and development (R&D), but it is very important from the time of construction," and "The required manpower is being calculated at the government-wide level."
He said, "Because fabs and data centers are directly related to national security, we cannot use foreign workers right away. Rather, we must foster more skilled construction personnel. We will quickly prepare a government-wide construction workforce training plan."
He then expressed his opinion, saying, “Construction sites have been perceived as bad jobs, dangerous, dirty and difficult jobs for young people, but I think construction work can once again be in the spotlight in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).”
At the National Assembly inspection on this day, the possibility of the National Pension Service participating in the retirement pension fund management process was also discussed.
In response to a related question from Rep. Ahn Ho-young of the Democratic Party of Korea, Minister Kim said, "Because the National Pension Service also has a positive function, we are considering the participation of the National Pension Service at an appropriate level."
