KCTU to vote Oct 7 on return to social dialogue; council ready to talk
Version 2: Seoul Economic Daily, Kyunghyang Shinmun and Hankook Ilbo added detail from the same council briefing, including the civic deliberation figures and the schedule for a 100-person citizens' meeting on Oct 24–25 and later proposals; the Oct 7 delegate conference vote is still pending and no outcome has been reported.
In short
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (민주노총) will hold its 85th temporary delegate conference at 1 p.m. on Oct 7 at KINTEX in Goyang to vote on joining the Economic, Social and Labor Council (경사노위), which would end a 27-year absence from institutional social dialogue. A union survey of 4,863 members found 87.8% in favour, but opponents within the confederation and a history of failed motions leave the outcome open. 경사노위 chairman Kim Ji-hyung said on Oct 6 that the council is prepared to begin consultations at any time and that all issues, including a name change, are open, though he said the changes would require legislation.
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The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (민주노총) will decide whether to return to institutional social dialogue at its 85th temporary delegate conference, scheduled for 1 p.m. on Oct 7 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, CBS NoCut News, Yonhap, Seoul Economic Daily, Kyunghyang Shinmun and Hankook Ilbo reported. Delegates will vote on a motion to pursue social bargaining including participation in the Economic, Social and Labor Council (경사노위). If it passes, it would be the confederation's first return since it left the Tripartite Commission, the council's predecessor, in 1999 — 27 years — according to CBS NoCut News, Yonhap and Seoul Economic Daily. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
CBS NoCut News reported that 민주노총 surveyed 4,863 members in August and September and that 87.8% backed pursuing social bargaining, with 51.7% saying it should be pushed quickly because it is already late. The most common reason given by opponents, at 37.8%, was concern that the union would become a “figurine” used to carry through government policy. The outlet also reported internal complaints that the survey could not be trusted given a membership of about 1.1 million. [ 1 ]
민주노총 has set three conditions for joining: consensus-based operation, guaranteed participation by industry-level unions and a change to the council's name. According to CBS NoCut News, the motion is conditional, with participation to follow if the government agrees to the three principles; the government says it sympathises with the intent but wants the union to enter 경사노위 first and discuss reform from inside, meaning further talks would be needed even if the motion passes. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
경사노위 chairman Kim Ji-hyung said on Oct 6 that the council is “fully prepared” to begin close consultations at any time with representatives of labour, management and government on how social dialogue is run. Speaking at a briefing in Jongno-gu, Seoul, he said everything including the name change was being considered, and that a wise decision was expected in response to the social request for labour to take part as a “complete” body. He added that consensus-based operation, industry-level union participation and the name change would all require legislative changes. Newsis headlined the same position, reporting that the council would discuss social dialogue with the three demands left open. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Yonhap reported that only the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (한국노총) sits on 경사노위 as a labour representative, a limit repeatedly described as making it “half” a body. Previous attempts failed: CBS NoCut News reported that in January 2019 a delegate conference rejected council-related motions, with a conditional participation plan drawing 44.1% in favour, and that in July 2020 a tripartite agreement proposed for overcoming COVID-19 was rejected with 61.7% against, prompting the leadership to resign. [ 1 , 2 ]
Separately, 경사노위 presented the first stage of a civic deliberation run by its special committee on demographic change and jobs, which launched in July. Kyunghyang Shinmun and Hankook Ilbo reported that 277 citizens took part in two rounds of discussions and produced about 4,600 opinions, narrowed to 10 topics and then to six key tasks; the task chosen most often, at 74.3%, was creating quality jobs and fostering employment industries by region. Hankook Ilbo reported that 경사노위 plans a two-day meeting of 100 citizens on Oct 24–25, a citizen proposal in November and a final proposal to the special committee in December. [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
A 민주노총 return would give 경사노위 labour representation beyond the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (한국노총), addressing a limit that has been described as making the body “half” complete. The vote also tests whether the current government can bring the confederation into official dialogue, which earlier attempts did not achieve. Both the delegate vote and the government's response to the three conditions remain open.
Key facts
- 민주노총 will hold its 85th temporary delegate conference at 1 p.m. on Oct 7 at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, to vote on a motion to pursue social bargaining including participation in 경사노위. [ 1 ]
- If the motion passes, it would be 민주노총's first return to institutional social dialogue in 27 years, after it left the Tripartite Commission, 경사노위's predecessor, in 1999. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- In a survey of 4,863 members in August and September, 87.8% supported pursuing social bargaining and 51.7% said it should be pushed quickly; among opponents the most common reason, at 37.8%, was concern the union would become a “figurine” for government policy. [ 1 ]
- 민주노총's conditions for joining are consensus-based operation, guaranteed participation by industry-level unions and a change to the council's name. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- Only the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (한국노총) currently takes part in 경사노위 as a labour representative, a limit repeatedly described as making it “half” a body. [ 2 ]
- 경사노위 chairman Kim Ji-hyung said on Oct 6 that the council is fully prepared to begin consultations at any time and that a name change is among the issues open for discussion, but that consensus-based operation, industry-level participation and the name change would all require legislative changes. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- 경사노위's civic deliberation involved 277 citizens in two rounds of discussions who produced about 4,600 opinions, narrowed to 10 topics and then 6 key tasks; the top task, cited by 74.3%, was creating quality jobs and fostering employment industries by region. [ 5 , 6 ]
- 경사노위 plans a two-day meeting of 100 citizens on Oct 24–25, a citizen proposal in November and a final proposal submitted to the special committee in December. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- 민주노총 will hold a delegate conference on Oct 7 to decide whether to return to social dialogue after 27 years. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- 민주노총 has set three conditions for participation: consensus-based operation, guaranteed industry-level participation and a change to the council's name. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
- 민주노총 has not taken part in the council since leaving its predecessor, the Tripartite Commission, in 1999. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- 경사노위 chairman Kim Ji-hyung said the council is prepared to begin consultations with labour, management and government at any time and that 민주노총's demands, including a name change, are open for discussion. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the delegate conference will approve the motion. CBS NoCut News reports the issue is sharply divided internally, with complaints that the survey of a union of about 1.1 million members cannot be trusted and with past motions having failed; this is a single-source account ahead of the vote.
- Whether the government will agree to 민주노총's three principles before the union joins. CBS NoCut News reports the government sympathises with the intent but wants the union to enter 경사노위 first and discuss reform from inside, while 민주노총's motion is conditional on prior agreement.
- How and when the proposed changes to the council would be legislated. The requirement for legislation is stated by the 경사노위 chairman, but the documents give no timetable or legislative schedule.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Oct 5: CBS NoCut News reports that 민주노총 will decide this week on returning to social dialogue after 27 years. [ 1 ]
- Oct 6: 경사노위 chairman Kim Ji-hyung says at a Seoul briefing that the council is fully prepared to begin consultations at any time and that a name change is open for discussion. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Oct 6: Seoul Economic Daily reports the briefing and the council's six key tasks from its citizens' deliberation on jobs. [ 4 ]
- Oct 6: Kyunghyang Shinmun reports that 277 citizens took part in two deliberation rounds, producing about 4,600 opinions, with regional job creation chosen by 74.3%. [ 5 ]
- Oct 6: Hankook Ilbo reports the plan for a 100-citizen meeting on Oct 24–25, a November citizen proposal and a December final proposal. [ 6 ]
- Oct 7: 민주노총's 85th temporary delegate conference is scheduled to open at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. [ 1 , 2 ]