As South Korea prepares to phase out coal power plants by 2040, discussions are underway to stabilize employment for workers at power companies and their subcontractors, as well as to support job transitions. Key topics include preparing employment strategies before the closure of power plants and designing systems to assist affected regions.
The Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment announced that it will hold a "Labor Policy Forum on Coal Power Phase-Out" on the morning of the 22nd at the National Assembly Hall in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, in collaboration with 14 lawmakers, including Kim Joo-young.
This forum will focus on the implementation of the "Special Law for Supporting Coal Power Plant Workers and Affected Regions," set to take effect on September 16 next year, and will gather opinions from stakeholders, including labor representatives. The aim is to discuss policies that minimize employment impacts from the coal phase-out while ensuring job stability and smooth transitions for workers.
Lee Kyung-hee, a researcher at the Korea Legislation Research Institute, will present on the role of the special law in preparing employment strategies before the closure of power plants. The presentation will cover the scope of worker support, participation systems, vocational training, and necessary resources for the law's implementation.
Oh Il-cheon, a section chief at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, will introduce the criteria and procedures for designating special transition zones, as well as support measures. This initiative aims to proactively assist regions expected to undergo employment and industrial structure changes due to carbon neutrality, linking it with the special law supporting coal power phase-out areas.
The subsequent discussion will focus on employment stability for workers at power companies and their subcontractors, as well as support measures for job transitions. Oh Sang-bong, deputy director of the Korea Labor Institute, will moderate the session, which will include participation from labor unions such as the Power Federation, Public Workers Union, and experts in law and labor, along with the Clean Power Transition Division of the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment.
The Ministry plans to review the opinions raised during the forum and incorporate them into the "Implementation Plan for Coal Power Transition" currently being prepared in conjunction with the 12th Basic Plan for Power Supply and Demand. The results of the discussions will also be utilized in the process of establishing subordinate regulations for the special law, with collaboration from the Ministry of Labor, local governments, and labor sectors to refine support measures.
Lee Ho-hyun, the second vice minister of the Ministry of Climate Energy and Environment, emphasized the importance of examining the impact of the energy transition on the employment of power plant workers, stating, "It is crucial to listen to the voices from the field, including labor representatives, and to work with relevant ministries and local governments to develop concrete support measures for job stability and transitions."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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