Both major union federations, business groups and related ministries take part; second meeting set for Oct. 2

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon briefs reporters at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu on Friday on a proposal for social dialogue related to the Mega Special Zone Special Act, which includes exemptions from the 52-hour workweek for research workers and an expansion of permitted dispatch work. [Yonhap]
Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon briefs reporters at Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu on Friday on a proposal for social dialogue related to the Mega Special Zone Special Act, which includes exemptions from the 52-hour workweek for research workers and an expansion of permitted dispatch work. [Yonhap]

Labor, management and government representatives have launched social dialogue to discuss working-hour exemptions to be included in a proposed mega special zone special act. The three parties agreed to hold working-level consultations once or twice a week at the director-general level, alongside a parallel vice-ministerial steering body.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor said Tuesday it held the first working-level meeting of what it is tentatively calling the "one-point social dialogue on the Mega Special Zone Special Act," bringing together labor, business and related government ministries.

From labor, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions' policy bureau chief and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' planning bureau chief attended. Business was represented by senior officials from the Korea Enterprises Federation and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while the government side included director-general-level officials from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. The Economic, Social and Labor Council's operations bureau chief also took part.

The meeting was the first formal working-level session following a vice-ministerial preliminary consultation held Friday. Participants discussed how to structure the social dialogue process and agreed to convene working-level meetings once or twice a week. Major points of contention will also be taken up by the vice-ministerial steering committee.

The second working-level meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 2.


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