KEF chairman calls for flexible, cooperative labor market at ILO conference

Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik delivers a speech at the 113th session of the International Labour Organization Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday. Courtesy of KEF

Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik emphasized the urgent need for more flexible labor policies and stronger cooperation among social partners at the 113th session of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday.

Speaking as the representative of Korean employers, the chairman pointed to the multifaceted global challenges that businesses and workers are currently facing, saying that labor, management and governments are "obliged" to cooperate to address them.

“We are now facing unprecedented and complex challenges,” the chairman said in his speech. “Growing global economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions pose serious threats to sustainable growth and social integration.”

He pointed out that accelerating technological innovation and climate change continue to reshape industries and labor markets worldwide, leading to alarming unemployment rates globally.

“Technologies such as AI (artificial intelligence), robotics and automation are profoundly reshaping industrial structures and labor markets,” he said.

“While new industries are growing and new jobs are being created, it is alarming that one out of five young people, who are our future generation, still remains unemployed without education or training. This shows the seriousness of the situation facing our social partners.”

To address these issues, Sohn called for reform and cooperation. “In order to build a virtuous cycle from growth to job creation, it is crucial to establish a more flexible labor market and more cooperative relationships between social partners in line with industrial transformation and labor market changes,” he said.

“Rigid and uniform regulations that hinder enterprise investment and employment need to be actively relaxed. In the evolving business environment and labor market, workers and employers need to be allowed to manage their working hours more flexibly, and performance-based wage systems should be more widely adapted.”

He also stressed that responding to labor market transformations requires shared responsibility in order to pursue sustainable growth for future generations, vowing KEF’s commitment.

“In this regard, the KEF is fully committed to social dialogue in establishing sustainable growth and cooperative industrial relations,” he said.

Sohn encouraged the ILO to support flexibility and diversity for the labor market and have constructive discussions to create such an environment.

“I believe that the future of a successful labor market depends on promoting diversity and autonomy. I therefore hope for the ILO to respect each member state’s national circumstances and the diverse positions of all social partners in a balanced manner,” he said.

The ILO Conference, held from June 2 to 13, gathers representatives from 187 member states to discuss key labor issues, including industrial changes, platform economies and policies for promoting decent and formal employment.

Vice Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Min-seok and Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Chairman Yang Kyung-soo also attended this year’s conference.