The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has decided to participate in social dialogue regarding labor exceptions in mega special zones, marking its return to the labor-management-government dialogue table for the first time in six years since the COVID-19 pandemic.
On September 17, KCTU held a central executive committee meeting and announced its decision to engage in a 'one-point social dialogue' related to the special law for mega special zones. KCTU stated, "It is necessary to participate in the dialogue to directly express our opposition to the expansion of labor exceptions and the regression of labor rights."
KCTU Chairman Yang Kyung-soo expressed that during the social dialogue, the union will demand the prevention of exceptions to the 52-hour workweek and the so-called 'white-collar exemption,' as well as advocate for a 4.5-day workweek. He also mentioned plans to restrict the reasons for employing non-regular workers in mega special zones and to seek ways to return tax benefits provided to companies back to society.
Earlier, Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon proposed a one-point social dialogue limited to mega special zones on September 15. This initiative aims to create a separate dialogue space since KCTU does not participate in the existing Presidential Economic, Social and Labor Council.
Key agenda items include eliminating the 52-hour work limit for high-income managers and research and development personnel, excluding overtime, night, and holiday work allowances from the 'white-collar exemption,' and extending the usage period of fixed-term workers from the current two years to an additional two years with worker consent, referred to as '2+2.'
While the business community argues that labor exceptions are necessary to secure the competitiveness of mega special zones, labor groups oppose this, stating that easing labor regulations could lead to a general regression of labor rights. With KCTU's decision to participate, a social dialogue promoted by the government is expected to take place soon.
However, it remains uncertain whether this will lead to actual agreements. KCTU participated in labor-management-government dialogue during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but internal approval fell through, preventing them from signing the final agreement.
Meanwhile, KCTU discussed its potential return to the Economic, Social and Labor Council but did not reach a conclusion. KCTU has not participated in social dialogue since withdrawing from the predecessor of the council in February 1999. The union has yet to decide whether to submit this matter to a delegate conference, and Chairman Yang has unilaterally decided to convene a delegate conference early next month.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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