Daegu mayoral candidates criticized for ignoring labor issues

Labor organizations in Daegu are denouncing mayoral candidates for their apparent disregard for the city's deteriorating labor environment, accusing them of prioritizing corporate attraction over worker welfare.

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Candidates from both parties have no labor policies. Even the pledges that appear to include labor policies are concerning upon closer inspection. They contain anti-labor policies such as 'a city good for business' and 'a city without labor disputes.'

The Daegu branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) highlighted statistics showing Daegu at the bottom of national rankings for working environment satisfaction. The city also faces a high rate of "youth who have rested" (unemployed and not seeking work), a significant proportion of workers not receiving minimum wage, and a notable gender pay gap.

Despite these challenges, the KCTU noted that major candidates from both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party largely share similar economic platforms, focusing on attracting major companies like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, and promoting AI-driven industrial transformation. However, their specific commitments to improving labor conditions are minimal.

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Local government labor policies are now recognized as essential policies for revitalizing the regional economy. Young people are leaving Daegu to find jobs, yet small and medium-sized businesses are crying out about labor shortages. This is why local governments must implement customized labor policies.

While one candidate offers some youth-focused initiatives like a labor ombudsman, another proposes establishing a dedicated labor administration organization and a labor director system. However, concerns were raised about this candidate's suggestion to "actively consider differentiation of minimum wages by industry and region." Another candidate reportedly has no labor-specific pledges at all. Labor advocates argue that local governments must implement tailored labor policies to address the region's realities, such as the mismatch between small businesses struggling to find workers and young people leaving the city in search of better opportunities.

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While industrial structure transformation with AI and robots can increase productivity, it can also lead to job losses for young people and workers. Daegu mayoral candidates are only looking at what will be protected, not who will be sacrificed. Industrial transformation must be designed to include the livelihoods, employment stability, and retraining of working laborers.