At the National Assembly today...
Top economic policymakers and the three main
political parties met to discuss pending economic
issues.
Visible efforts to promote a smooth start
to the 20th National Assembly... our parliamentary
correspondent Ji Myung-kil has more.
The chief policymakers of the main three political
parties and finance minister Yoo Il-hoo agreed
that the adoption of a performance-based salary
system calls for an agreement between workers
and employers.
"The three parties pressured the government
to take into account last year's tripartite
agreement when introducing and expanding the
performance-based wage system in companies."
The performance-based payment system is the
latest move by the government to boost labor
flexibility to create more jobs... especially
for young adults.
The tripartite commission consisting of the
labor, management and government reached a
deal on labor reform last year.
However, Korea's two labor unions insist that
the performance-based wage system cannot be
objective and paying different wages based
on each worker's evaluation will only threaten
the lives of the people.
The government and the three political parties
also agreed the government must seek all viable
means to lead and finance its ongoing corporate
restructuring process.
"The most important thing is that financially
troubled companies must be held liable for
their managerial problems and we must seek
ways to provide much needed funds for corporate
restructuring."
The government selected five industrial sectors,
namely shipbuilding, shipping, construction,
steelmaking and petrochemicals, where massive
overhaul is needed for companies to survive,
but the participants agreed - and pointed
out - that the government should also take
into account implementing measures to minimize
the financial burden the restructuring process
might place on taxpayers.
Meanwhile, they decided to meet on a regular
basis every month with the next meeting slated
for early June.
Ji Myung-kil, Arirang News.
