The government officially scrapped two highly disputed labor regulations Monday, including one making layoffs easier, in a move aimed at patching up relations with labor and fostering social unity.

The administration of ousted President Park Geun-hye introduced the regulations in January last year. One allowed companies to fire low-performing employees and the other eased a rule requiring firms to win consent from a majority of workers before revising working conditions.
 

The management-friendly rules drew severe protests from labor circles, leading even the moderate umbrella labor union Federation of Korean Trade Unions to quit the Tripartite Commission of Labor, Management and Government.

Scrapping the regulations has been one of labor's top conditions for resuming dialogue with the government.

On Monday, the labor ministry decided to abolish the regulations in a meeting presided over by Minister Kim Young-joo, saying there had not been sufficient consultation with labor or wider society before introducing the regulations.

Officials also said they hope the decision will improve relations with labor.

"We anticipate the scrapping of the two regulations will lead to the restoration of dialogue," a ministry official said on condition of anonymity.

The decision had been widely expected as it was one of President Moon Jae-in's campaign promises. Minister Kim also promised to abolish the rules in her confirmation hearing. (Yonhap)