South Korea’s biggest umbrella trade union on Tuesday called on President Moon Jae-in to participate in a new body consisting of eight parties to initiate long-stalled social dialogue among workers, businesses and the government.

The Federation of Korean Trade Union rejected the existing Tripartite Commission of Labor, Management and Government, saying the framework has only worked in favor of the government and employers.

Instead, the FKTU suggested that a new eight-party committee -- consisting of two umbrella unions, business interest groups, the Labor Ministry, the Finance Ministry and President Moon -- be made to begin discussing pending issues ranging from minimum wage to irregular jobs.

“To overcome conflicts and make a new framework for dialogue, it is desirable for President Moon to open the way,” FKTU President Kim Ju-young told reporters during a press briefing. 

The current three-way negotiating body, made up of representatives from workers, businesses and the government, collapsed in January last year after the FKTU walked out in protest against the previous Park Geun-hye administration’s push for labor market reforms.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions quit the trilateral committee in 1999.

The two union umbrella groups represent about 10 percent of all workers in South Korea.

The FKTU’s suggestion came amid growing expectation for resumption of dialogue among workers, businesses and government after the government on Monday scrapped two controversial labor guidelines, which had made it possible for firms to dismiss underperforming workers and change working conditions without workers’ approval.

Other parties called to join the eight-party committee are yet to reveal their stances.

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)