During a field meeting titled "Dialogue with Small Business Owners" held at the DMC Tower in Seoul, Minister Kim emphasized that various measures have been put in place to effectively deliver consultation and training, including AI consultations, on-site consulting, and tailored education for vulnerable businesses, considering the conditions of small enterprises.
This meeting is part of the government's ongoing efforts to strengthen protections for young part-time workers. Following a franchise cafe incident in Cheongju in March, the Ministry of Labor conducted targeted inspections in the restaurant and cafe sectors. However, the government recognizes the urgent need for measures to address cases where small businesses are unable to comply with labor laws due to a lack of understanding.
In response, the government plans to implement a "two-track approach" that combines support and oversight for small businesses. To assist small business owners in complying with labor laws, the government will significantly expand AI-based consultation services. Last year, the "AI Labor Law Consultation" handled 117,000 inquiries, which will be integrated with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' "Small Business 24" platform. In the second half of the year, a feature will be added that allows users to upload employment contracts or wage statements for AI to automatically diagnose potential legal violations and suggest improvements.
Support for small businesses lacking professional labor management personnel will also be enhanced. The number of on-site consultations for the "Voluntary Improvement Service for Working Conditions," aimed at businesses with fewer than 30 employees, will increase from one to a maximum of three visits. Additionally, support for social insurance to reduce the financial burden on business owners will be expanded.
Alongside support, the government will also crack down on illegal and improper practices. Inspections of businesses suspected of engaging in "fake 3.3 contracts" will continue, as many cases have been identified in the field. This is in response to the blurring lines between workers and individual business owners due to the rise of platform labor and short-term part-time jobs. Issues related to disguised freelance contracts have repeatedly emerged, particularly in sectors like restaurants, cafes, and services where many young people are employed.
The government also plans to actively support discussions in the National Assembly regarding the introduction of a worker presumption system. If implemented, this system would allow workers to be recognized as employees unless the employer can prove otherwise, thereby expanding the scope of labor rights protection.
Minister Kim Young-hoon remarked, "To move beyond the adversarial relationship between small business owners and workers and foster a cooperative relationship, we must first address the complex challenges faced by small businesses. We will seek to create valuable workplaces where we work and live together, based on the voices from the field."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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