After Korea's liberation from Japan's colonial rule (August 15, 1945), a problem to constitute a new democratic labor law in the northern half of Korea arose as an important requirement to provide the working masses who turned out in building a new country with genuine working life.

President Kim Il Sung led a work to settle such problems as abolition of slave labor, enforcement of eight-hour working system and improvement of working conditions, which had been already suggested in the period of the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle, to meet the requirements of the country's socio-economic development.

The President personally completed the articles of the labor law and saw to it that nation-wide discussion on the draft was conducted.

All the people fully supported the draft as it comprehensively and correctly reflected their desire and demand for the democratic working life and suggested declaring it as the law.

In accordance with the unanimous will of the people, he promulgated the historic labor law in June Juche 35 (1946).

The promulgation of the labor law was a great social change providing the people, who suffered from exploitation and distress with no right for a long time, with the first legal system for leading an independent and creative labor life.

Thanks to this law, workers and office employees were fully ensured the democratic right on labor and rest, including eight-hour working system.

After then, the President comprehended successes and experiences made in the work to strengthen the socialist labor system and made public "The Socialist Labour Law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea" to further consolidate the socialist labor system of the country by law.

The working people in the DPRK are now receiving such state benefits as?paid leave system, recuperation and relaxation systems at the state expense, as well as social insurance and pension systems with the right to labor.