On the 10th, the first day of enforcement of what is known as "the yellow envelope law, a new labor law aimed at strengthening the bargaining rights of subcontract workers" (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act), President Lee Jae-myung said, "I hope this will mark a starting point for subcontract workers to negotiate directly with prime contractors and resolve common problems through dialogue and compromise instead of confrontation and conflict."
In a video congratulatory message sent to the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions that day, President Lee said, "It happens to be the first day that the yellow envelope law, a new labor law aimed at strengthening the bargaining rights of subcontract workers, takes effect today."
He also said, "With the digital transition and advances in artificial intelligence technology, we are entering an unprecedented period of upheaval and great transition, and job types and ways of working are also changing rapidly in different ways than before," adding, "We will mobilize the full capacity of the government so that more workers can participate more in labor unions and enjoy the three labor rights more."
On the same day, President Lee invited major companies such as Samsung Electronics, SK SUPEX Council, Hyundai Motor, Hanwha Ocean, and Naver, as well as partner small and midsize enterprises, to the Blue House for a "co-prosperity corporate roundtable." At the meeting, Lee said, "For Korea's sustainable growth, we must shift to growth for all that shares opportunities and fruits evenly," adding, "Even a tiger needs healthy rabbits and broad grasslands to survive—that is the law of nature."
The yellow envelope law, a new labor law aimed at strengthening the bargaining rights of subcontract workers, which takes effect starting today, strengthens prime contractors' responsibility for subcontracted workers, broadens the scope of labor disputes, and limits corporations' claims for damages against striking workers. After Ssangyong Motor filed a damages suit against its union and the court ordered "4.7 billion won in compensation," a citizen put 47,000 won in a yellow envelope and proposed, "Let 100,000 people share 4.7 billion won," which led to the name.