Published : Aug. 11, 2016 - 13:33
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday vowed to make "all-out" efforts to secure parliamentary approval for a set of labor reform bills that languished at the previous National Assembly.
Presiding over a national policy coordination meeting, Hwang highlighted the importance of the bills to create jobs for young people and reinvigorate the country's economy.
"It is regrettable that the passage of the bills for creating jobs and for other purposes is being delayed," Hwang said during the gathering in Seoul.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn (center) speaks during a national policy coordination meeting in Seoul on Aug. 11. (Yonhap)
"With our firm resolve, (our government) will make all-out efforts to promptly secure parliamentary endorsement for the bills at the 20th National Assembly."
The set of bills have been at the core of government efforts to tackle youth unemployment and prop up economic growth. But critics have argued that the bills would undermine the quality of employment and "polarize" the labor markets.
Touching on the issues stemming from the country's low-birth rate, the prime minister pledged "continued efforts" to promote a work-family balance through various programs such as a flextime system and a quality child-care scheme.
Commenting on the corporate revitalization act that will be enforced from Saturday, Hwang said that the government would step up its efforts to "innovate" the manufacturing sector and nurture new energy industries through deregulation and investments in research and development. (Yonhap)