Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Ministry of Employment and Labor to Support Small Business Owners in Resolving Labor Management Challenges

Strengthening Prevention and Support for Labor Disputes in Industries Hiring Short-Term Workers

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that on June 2, Minister Han Sung-sook held a meeting at the Korea Certified Public Labor Attorneys Association to discuss labor-related challenges faced by small business owners and unveiled government support measures to ease their labor management burdens.

This meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Korea Certified Public Labor Attorneys Association, as well as small business owners from convenience stores, restaurants, and cafes—industries with a high proportion of short-term workers, where labor-related disputes and challenges frequently occur. Attendees shared the difficulties they face in labor management on the ground and exchanged opinions on possible improvements.

First, the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises explained the labor-related challenges that small business owners encounter in the field and requested expanded government support to resolve them. Subsequently, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced government support measures to address these issues. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to collaborate with the Korea Certified Public Labor Attorneys Association to produce a Q&A-style casebook focusing on common labor management pitfalls encountered by small business owners. Based on this, they will also hold regional on-site briefing sessions and create and distribute online informational videos, including short-form content.

Additionally, to provide support when labor disputes arise, the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises counseling center will be operated so that small business owners can seek advice. In severe cases, small business owners will be supported with consultations from labor-specialized attorneys and the appointment of legal representatives. The Ministry of Employment and Labor introduced an 'AI Labor Law Counseling' service, which individual small business owners can access 24 hours a day. Furthermore, to improve accessibility, the service will be integrated with 'Small Business 24', the comprehensive platform for small business support projects.

Participants also exchanged various opinions, such as the need for government-level consulting support, given the significant management burden caused by the complex structure of wages and allowances, including weekly allowance and severance pay. Minister Han Sung-sook, who presided over the meeting, stated, "Small business owners are often too focused on their daily operations to keep up with complex labor and employment laws. While we will ensure the smooth implementation of support measures, we will also do our best to help small business owners easily understand and prevent common labor issues on the ground, thereby creating an environment where they can manage their businesses with peace of mind."

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