Labor ministry launches taxi industry working-condition task force

The labor ministry said Thursday it has launched a joint task force with taxi unions, employers and outside experts to examine working conditions in the taxi industry, opening the group's first meeting in Seoul.

The task force brings together the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport with three union federations, including the National Taxi Workers' Union Federation and the taxi branch of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union, and the National Taxi Transport Business Association representing operators. Experts nominated by labor, management and the government also joined.

The group was set up to establish an objective picture of working conditions for taxi industry workers.

At the kickoff meeting, held at 9 a.m. in Seoul, participants agreed the taxi industry needs to become a better place to work and discussed how the task force should operate.

In coming sessions, outside experts will present on how taxi work has been studied elsewhere and what previous surveys in Korea have found, and the task force plans to gather union and employer views before it firms up a concrete plan for a full fact-finding survey of the industry.