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Grace period for labor rule contemplated

Published: 01 Dec. 2009, 23:04

The Labor Ministry is mulling over a plan to give a grace period before implementing a new labor policy allowing more than one union at a single workplace, a senior ministry official told the JoongAng Ilbo yesterday.

“We are thinking about giving some time to employers and labor unions to prepare, as long as our principle of implementing the changes next year will not be disturbed,” the high-ranking official said. “Grace periods of three to six months will be provided to give administrative instructions.”

The official said the most desirable solution for labor policy would be a consensus by the labor community, employers and the government.

The government plans to introduce new labor policies beginning Jan. 1 to allow multiple unions for each workplace and prohibit companies from paying wages to those who work full time as union representatives. If the labor community and the employers agree to the grace period, the ministry aims at revising the relevant labor laws before the end of this year.

Labor Minister Yim Tae-hee said yesterday that a proposal of giving three-year grace period before allowing multiple unions at a single workplace is nothing more than a de facto delay.

“Even if the labor community and the employers agree on the three-year delay, the ministry will not accept it,” he said, making clear that the change will take effect next year.

Grand National Party floor leader Ahn Sang-soo has said the labor community needs preparation time before the multiple union system is adopted. “The FKTU and the Korea Employers Federation should negotiate on the possibility of deferring the implementation by one to three years.”

Meanwhile, Hyundai Kia Automotive Group issued a statement yesterday that the new labor policies must be implemented next year as scheduled.

By Kim Ki-chan, Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]