Minister of Employment and labor, H.E. Lee Jung-Sik as head delegate of the Korean government
attended the 110th International Labour Conference (the ILC) held in Geneva and delivered his speech on
Jun. 7th at 4:20 PM local time. (11:20 PM Korean time)
Minister Lee stressed vulnerable groups in the Korean labour market are still struggling although the
country sees recovery from COVID-19. He also introduced policies of the new administration to realize a
society where the value of labor is respected.
Highlights are measures to prompt support livelihood of special employment types, freelancers and taxi
drivers and enhanced plans to encourage new workforce to enter industries troubled with labour shortages.
He stated that better employment services for job seekers will be delivered digitally while new technologies
such as metaverse and virtual reality will be adopted to facilitate workers’ vocational development.
He also added, the Korean government is set to establish an occupational safety and health management
framework and a detailed roadmap to prevent work place incidents and it is highly timely that the
discussion to include ‘safe and healthy working conditions’ in the fundamental principle and rights at work
in this years’ ILC.
He affirmed the Korean government is faithfully committed to implementing three ILO fundamental
Conventions related to freedom of association and forced labour, which have been in force since April 2022,
with close tripartite consultation with employers and workers.
Lastly, he clearly demonstrated the commitment of the Korean government has put the spirit of
cooperation and solidarity with the ILO to fulfill its role the international community expects of Korea.
The ILC this year, organized in a hybrid format mixing in-person and virtual setting for the first time since
the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis, brings together representatives of governments, employers and
workers from 187 countries and continues from May 30th through Jun. 11st.
On the top of the agenda of the ILC is discussion on the amendment to the ILO Declaration on
Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, 1998 to include ‘safe and healthy working conditions‘ as one of
fundamental principles and rights at work.
The amendment means the expansion of fundamental principles and rights at work to five areas beyond
four: freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the
elimination of forced labour or compulsory labour, the abolition of child labour, the elimination of
discrimination in respective of employment and occupation.
When ‘safe and healthy working conditions’ is newly added to the fundamental principles and rights at
work, some of the conventions in the area of occupational safety and health is expected to be selected as
fundamental Conventions. The final conclusion is to be reach on Jun. 11st.
Aside from a speech given at the Conference, Minister Lee is scheduled to have meetings with the ILO
Director-General, the Director of the Bureau for Workers' Activities, and with the Minister for Manpower,
Singapore.