Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and KCTU launch consultative body Tuesday

Panel to pursue phased improvements to working conditions

Kim Young-su, first vice minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, delivers opening remarks at a launch ceremony for the labor-government consultative body for school arts instructors and lifestyle sports coaches, held Tuesday at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
Kim Young-su, first vice minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, delivers opening remarks at a launch ceremony for the labor-government consultative body for school arts instructors and lifestyle sports coaches, held Tuesday at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul. [Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) launched a labor-government consultative body for school arts instructors and lifestyle sports coaches Tuesday at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The government and labor groups formed the panel to meaningfully improve the working conditions of school arts instructors and lifestyle sports coaches following the enforcement of the revised Trade Union Act in March. The amended law — commonly known as the "Yellow Envelope Act" — strengthens the liability of prime contractors toward subcontracted workers and limits companies' ability to seek damages from striking workers.

First Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Young-su, KCTU Vice Chairperson Lee Yang-su and about 20 others exchanged views on the panel's operational direction and priorities for improving working conditions.

The consultative body plans to discuss improving the working conditions and treatment of school arts instructors, establishing a fair compensation framework for lifestyle sports coaches, and securing budget support for personnel in arts education and sports.

"We will listen closely to voices from the field and continue to communicate and cooperate with labor groups to bring about real improvements in workers' conditions," Kim said.


pink@heraldcorp.com