The delegation said "Now better understand Korea's industrial relations policies and expressioins,
and hope to expand cooperation"

Korea International Labour Foundation (KOILAF, President: Park In-Sang) successfully held an invitation program for 6 Uzbek tripartite delegates to visit Korea from November 25 to December 1, 2006.

The Invitation Program was organized to promote exchanges and cooperation between Korea and Uzbekistan, and enhance understanding on economic and labor situations of the two countries.

The Uzbek delegation, composed of 6 leaders of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and the Trade Unions Federation of Uzbekistan (TUFU) including Deputy Minister Batirjan ALIMUKHAMEDOV, Ministry of Labor and Social Protect of Population of Uzbekistan, enjoyed an opportunity to enhance their understanding on Korea's industrial relations policies and systems, and culture through visiting Korea's major tripartite organizations including the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), the Korea Employers Federation (KEF) and the Tripartite Commission (KTC), and through a lecture given by an expert in industrial relations.

President Park In-sang and employees of KOILAF had a meeting with the Uzbek delegates on November 27 where major businesses of KOILAF were introduced and current issues of labor relations between Korea and Uzbekistan were discussed. On the same day, a special lecture was given by President Lee Won-bo of Korea Labour & Society Institute on the theme of 'Understanding Korea's Industrial Relations', which was organized by KOILAF.

△ November 25 (Sat.) : arrival
△ November 26 (Sun.) : cultural experience
△ November 27 (Mon.) : KOILAF, special lecture on industrial relations, welcome dinner
△ November 28 (Tue.) : FKTU Gyeonggi Chapter office, KNTO, FKTU
△ November 29 (Wed.) : KTC, KEF
△ November 30 (Thur.) : business observation (Asan factory of Hyundai Motors, reservation site of Korean National Oil Corp.)
△ December 1 (Fri. ) : departure

On November 28, the Uzbek delegation visited FKTU Gyeonggi Chapter office in the morning and was given an explanation on the major projects by the president Lee Hwa-soo, where the delegates including Nurulla NASIMOV, Chairman of Tashikent City Union, Trade Unions Federation of Uzbekistan (TUFU) showed a great interest in the current status and the major projects of the Gyeonggi office.

On the same day, they visited FKTU and exchanged views on Korea's industrial relations with Jeong Gwang-ho, vice president where the delegates showed an interest in the positions of each group in relation to protection for non-regular workers in Korea, and the vice president Jeong Gwang-ho explained "FKTU recognizes the existence of non-regular work is unavoidable, but the number should be put in control and discrimination against non-regular workers should be eliminated".

Meanwhile, the delegation visited the Korea Tripartite Commission on November 29 to meet Kim Won-bae, a standing member who gave an explanation on composition of the Commission, policy directions and the current issues of industrial relations in Korea.
Deputy Minister Batirjan ALIMUKHAMEDOV, Ministry of Labor and Social Protect of Population of Uzbekistan said "I think the Tripartite Commission's activities are significant in that they contribute to finding out a common ground of policies" and added "we will refer to the Commission in developing labor policies in Uzbekistan in the future".

 

In the afternoon on the same day, they visited the Korea Employers Federation (KEF) and listened to an explanation of Kim Jeong-tae, managing director on the major businesses of KEF and the current issues of Korea's industrial relations, where Deputy Minister Batirjan ALIMUKHAMEDOV, Ministry of Labor and Social Protect of Population of Uzbekistan asked with an interest about how Korea had successfully recovered from the financial crisis. The managing director responded by saying "we were able to recover the crisis in 1997 through a grand compromise led by the tripartite representatives" and added "at that time, companies agreed on improving their financial structure and increasing investment, and the labor circle accepted an employment adjustment and a wage cut plan".

Meanwhile, the delegation visited businesses such as Asan factory of Hyundai Motors and an oil reservation site of Korean National Oil Corp. located in Yongin on November 30.

In the evaluation of the invitation program, the Uzbek delegation expressed appreciation to KOILAF, saying "we are able to better understand Korea's experiences and policies with respect to industrial relations through this invitation program", and added "we hope to continuously expand the cooperation between Korea and Uzbekistan on economic and labor areas, and develop further the friendly relationship in various areas".