Korea Labor Foundation seeks applicants for 'Workplace Innovation' award

The Korea Labor Foundation announced Tuesday it is accepting applications for its 2026 Workplace Innovation Excellence Award through Sept. 18, in a bid to identify companies that have raised both productivity and workers' quality of life through labor-management cooperation.

The award recognizes companies that have improved productivity and quality while also enhancing workers' living standards and compensation through sustained, systematic workplace innovation. Up to 15 workplaces will be selected this year.

Eligible applicants are domestic workplaces that have been in operation for at least three years and have no disqualifying factors such as illegal labor disputes. Applicants must have a labor union or a labor-management council in place, and the application must be submitted jointly by both labor and management.

Applicants should send their workplace innovation track record and supporting documents to the Korea Labor Foundation by email at hpws@nosa.or.kr. The application period runs from Aug. 20 through Sept. 18.

The foundation will evaluate submissions across five categories: leadership and implementation systems, participation, skill development, motivation and performance. Winners will be selected in early November following a preliminary screening, a first-round document review and a second-round case presentation.

Selected companies will receive a commendation from the Minister of Employment and Labor along with a plaque and a certificate of recognition. The certification remains valid for three years from the date of selection. Recipients also receive bonus points — 10 points when applying for the labor-management culture excellence designation and 5 points when applying for employment creation or employment stability incentive grants.

Additional benefits are available through the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency's clean workplace program, the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund's credit guarantee limits, and the Korea Labor Foundation's workplace innovation consulting and education projects.

Further details and application forms are available on the Ministry of Employment and Labor website and the Workplace Innovation platform.

Park Jong-pil, secretary-general of the Korea Labor Foundation, said workplace innovation is "a core driver for strengthening corporate competitiveness and improving workers' quality of life," adding that he looks forward to active participation from outstanding companies that are working together — labor and management — to transform their workplaces.