Moon vows all-out efforts to create jobs, urges concessions from all sides

By Yonhap

Published : Dec. 21, 2017 - 15:51

- Link copied

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday reaffirmed his efforts to create more quality jobs, while calling for efforts by all sides, including the workers.

"Our government firmly recognizes laborers as a partner in managing state affairs. But my or the government's efforts alone cannot achieve our goals. We will be able to achieve so much more when the laborers are with us," Moon said while meeting with some 120 union leaders and officials from various firms and organizations that are considered role models in labor-management relations.

The organizations have together created a 160-billion-won ($148 million) public fund to support irregular and low-waged workers. They include the Health and Medical Workers' Union and the Korea Federation of Banks, according to the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

"The public co-prosperity fund has set a great example of social dialogue in the very process of its establishment itself," the president told the meeting, according to a script of his keynote remarks released by Cheong Wa Dae.

President Moon Jae-in (front row, fifth from L) poses for a group photo while holding up a sign that says "Together, we go further," in a meeting with a group of officials and workers from a joint public fund held at his office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 21, 2017.

"It must have not been an easy process. I offer you a big applause for your courage and decision that offered the hope of co-prosperity and solidarity, which are most needed in our society," he added.

The president noted his administration's top priority continues to be creating more quality jobs.

"It seeks to change the growth-oriented strategy of the past that had neglected the laborers and build a people-oriented economy that can address the issue of extreme economic injustice and social polarization," Moon said.

"To this end, we need a grand social compromise, under which we will each make little concessions, share our burdens and narrow our gaps. Especially, sustainable development of our society will be impossible without a compromise between the labor, management and the government," he added.

Moon has pledged to create 810,000 new jobs in the public sector alone during his single five-year term. He also seeks to raise the minimum hourly wage to 10,000 won from the current 6,470 won before his presidency ends in May 2022. The minimum wage is already set to jump 16.4 percent to 7,530 won per hour from the beginning of next year.

"The government too will fulfill its role to promote social dialogue and joint prosperity. And in the public sector, it will especially do more to become the most exemplary user," the president said.

Moon asked that both labor and business circles have faith in what he has called a new economic paradigm.

"We are all very aware of the fact that we must realize inclusive growth, under which the fruits of growth will go evenly to all people. Our government calls this income-led growth, people-oriented growth," the president said in his closing remarks, according his top press secretary Yoon Young-chan.

"For a compromise between labor, management and government, faith in the government is most important. I ask both the labor and management to have faith in the government and lend your support just for one year," he was quoted as saying. "If both the management and laborers have faith and give us their support, we will definitely prove that our economic and labor policies benefit the workers and their users." (Yonhap)

Yonhap
Yonhap
Articles by Yonhap
- Details of meeting between Yoon, opposition leader undecided: presidential office
- Foreign Ministry denounces heightening tensions in Middle East

Moon vows all-out efforts to create jobs, urges concessions from all sides

More from Headlines