According to the financial times Chinese network, the South Korean government plans to lay off 19 thousand people in state-owned enterprises in the next 3 to 4 years. This improvement in efficiency may lead to conflicts with trade unions.

Yim Jong-yong, deputy director of the Korean Ministry of finance, said he hoped the unions would understand the need for reform.

He said: "the policy is aimed at curbing the hasty management of public enterprises and the existence of surplus labor in these enterprises.

Improving the efficiency of this sector is a big problem.

The project is not mandatory but encourages natural and voluntary retirement in the medium term. "

He said that the layoff of 13% of the total number of employees in South Korea's state owned enterprises does not mean ending recruitment. Enterprises will fill up about half of the vacancies.

The Korean Federation of trade unions strongly opposed the proposal and predicted possible protests. "This policy will cause conflicts between the three sides of the trade union, the company's management and the government."

Yang Jing: editor in charge