New Labor Law Not Fully Meet the International Standards , OECD Decided 

The OECD Committee for Employment, Labor and Social Affairs(ELSA) has
reported the governing body of the OECD, the Council, that it acknowledges the
efforts of the Korean authorities to reform labor legislation but considers that the 
new labor law does not fully meet the Korean government's commitments on freedom of
association and collective bargaining. 

The Committee, which follows labor policy in member countries, met Wednesday to
review the new labor legislation passed in South Korea on 26 December. The Chair
or the Committee, Dieter Grossen, reported Thursday to the Council. 

Mr. Grossen told the Council that the Committee considered that certain elements of
the law represented "a first step in the right direction" but "the reform, as it stand, 
does not fully meet the commitments made by the Korean government concerning freedom
of association and collective bargaining." 

Mr. Grossen said the Committee was pleased that the Korean arthorities are
prepared to reconsider the terms of the new labor law and encouraged the Korean
government to resume dialogue with all the interested parties as a sign of the
importance it attaches to an accelerated process to fully guarantee freedom of
association and collective bargaining. It stressed that the Presidential Commission on
Industrial Relations Reform can have an important role in encouraging public debate,
which will foster evolving attitudes and practices on labor relations. 

The Secratary-General Donald Johnston said that member countries welcomed the
Korean President's initiative in reconsidering the terms of the revised labor laws and
encouraged all parties to pursue the dialogue towards reform. They are encouraged
by the announcement that the trade unionests currently in prison in connection with
recent protests would be released and that the warrants for arrest of other union
leaders would be suspended. 

The Council asked the Committee to continue to monitor the progress of reform of
labor legislation in Korea.