PM Hwang Keen on Passing Labor Reform Bills
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo Ahn promised to exercise "all-out" efforts to secure parliamentary approval for various reform bills that were disregarded at the previous National Assembly.
According to a news article on the Yonhap news website, Hwang headed a national policy coordination meeting on Thursday in Seoul that focused on the importance of the bills to provide jobs for young people and revive the economy of the country.
"It is regrettable that the passage of the bills for creating jobs and for other purposes is being delayed. With our firm resolve, (our government) will make all-out efforts to promptly secure a parliamentary endorsement for the bills at the 20th National Assembly."
These bills are pertinent in order for the government to address and solve youth unemployment and support economic growth. However, some critics claimed that the bills would threaten the quality of employment and divide the labor markets.
When discussing the issues that resulted from the country's low birth rate, Hwang committed "continued efforts" to encourage a work-family balance via different campaigns and programs such as a quality child care method and a flextime system.
Regarding the corporate revitalization act which will be imposed starting on Saturday, the prime minister commented that the South Korean government would intensify its efforts to improve and innovate the manufacturing sector. He also assured that they would develop new energy industries through deregulation and investments in research and development.
Hwang served as the Minister of Justice in 2013 until President Park Geun Hye named him as Prime Minister of South Korea on May 21, 2015. He replaced Lee Wan Ko who resigned due to allegations of receiving bribes from a businessman. One of his notable achievements as the Minister of Justice includes successfully petitioning the country's constitutional court in 2014 to disband a small leftist party which was accused of having and sharing pro-North Korea views.