S Korea's Lee urges stable labor-management relations

 South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Monday voiced opposition to what he views as "unlawful" strikes, calling for a lot more harmonious labor-management relations.

Criticizing a recent strike at Yoosung Enterprise, a regional auto elements maker, for having threatened to paralyze the complete automobile market, the president, an ex-CEO, said inside a biweekly radio speech that such "illegal" strikes will "never be tolerated."

The government will "sternly" cope with unjustifiable strikes" also as unjust company practices that infringe on the rights and interests of employees," the president said.

The International Institute for Management Advancement of Switzerland ranked South Korea 53rd among 59 countries in labor- management competitiveness, Lee mentioned, pointing out confrontational labor-management relations have driven away foreign investors.

"If labor-management relations pursuing mutual rewards take firm root, it would develop productivity and aid revitalize investments by domestic corporations, even if labor fees remain somewhat high," Lee said in the address.

On its part, the government will strive to enhance life of workers along with corporate growth, the president mentioned.

"We have to establish a win-win economic structure exactly where collaboration between labor and management leads to an improve in productivity, which, in turn, encourages increased investments that produce far more jobs," Lee said. "The government will be certain that laws and principles will likely be impartially applied to labor and management although respecting their autonomy as a lot as possible."

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