The Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) asked the National Assembly to clarify the scope of employers under the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act and to speed up the abolition of the breach of duty offense, to boost the economy and strengthen the competitiveness of corporations.

KEF compiled 20 key issues that should be handled in the regular National Assembly session within the year, including these points, and submitted "Management community proposals for the second half of 2025 that we hope the National Assembly will address."

Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Enterprises Federation, delivers remarks at the National Assembly's joint declaration ceremony on social dialogue at Sarangjae in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 15th of last month. /Courtesy of News1

KEF said, "Even after the recent amendment to Article 2 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, there have been cases where subcontractor unions indiscriminately demand collective bargaining with the prime contractor, so the employer scope needs to be specified to minimize confusion on the ground."

KEF urged swift action on bills pending in the National Assembly, including improvements to the working hours system and the breach of duty offense. Regarding the current working hours system, it said the structure makes it difficult to respond quickly to changes in the business environment, and proposed measures such as changing the unit for managing overtime work and introducing exemptions (from regulation) for research and development, high-income workers, and professionals.

KEF also said, "In a situation where the amendment to the Commercial Act has increased the management burden on corporations, the breach of duty offense is discouraging even normal management activities," adding, "The breach of duty offense under the Commercial Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes should be abolished, and the breach of duty offense under the Criminal Act should be abolished or eased, so related amendment bills need to pass swiftly."

It also proposed cautious review of the third amendment to the Commercial Act, including legislation to extend the statutory retirement age and the mandatory retirement of treasury shares. In particular, as extending the retirement age could heighten generational conflict and deepen the dual structure of the labor market, it proposed enacting a separate law to promote the reemployment of older workers.

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