Kim Young-hoon calls for retirement age bill to pass this year, pledges swift government proposal

Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon said Tuesday that legislation to raise the mandatory retirement age must be passed before the end of this year, and pledged to present a government proposal as soon as the National Assembly is ready to make a final decision.

Speaking at a national audit conducted by the Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, Kim said the bill could not wait any longer. "I think even today is too late to be discussing this," he told People Power Party lawmaker Kim Wi-sang, who had asked about the minister's commitment to passing the retirement age legislation. "The retirement age extension bill must be passed this year."

Kim then said, "Discussions have matured over a long period through the National Assembly TF and other channels. Once I judge that only a final decision remains, I will present a government proposal without delay."

On the question of exempting workers at mega special economic zones from the 52-hour weekly work limit — a provision being considered for inclusion in the Mega Special Zone Act — Kim struck a cautious tone, saying both corporate productivity and workers' right to health must be taken into account.

When People Power Party lawmaker Lee Cheol-gyu asked whether research and development personnel at a Honam semiconductor special zone could be exempted from the 52-hour cap, Kim said there were "many aspects that need to be carefully reviewed."

Kim went on to say, "For the mega special zones to succeed, corporate productivity and the protection of workers' health must be achieved in harmony. The government will not shift responsibility onto the parties involved — we will do our best to coordinate dialogue responsibly and produce a good outcome."

In his opening remarks at the audit, Kim also addressed the ongoing single-agenda social dialogue on the Mega Special Zone Act, which has been under way since September. "We will not predetermine the outcome, but the government will serve as a facilitator of dialogue so that a result can be reached through conversation," he said.

On concerns that the so-called Yellow Envelope Act — the revised Trade Union Act — could fuel conflicts between primary and subcontracted workers in the public sector, Kim said the ministry would support labor-government consultations.

"The Ministry of Employment and Labor will play an active role in ensuring that consultations between public-sector labor unions and the government proceed smoothly," he said.