Labor groups, including the two major labor unions, urged on the 28th that the so-called 'yellow envelope law' (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act), currently being discussed at the National Assembly, should be passed swiftly without retreat.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the Korean Trade Union Congress, and the Reform Movement for the Amendment of Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act held a press conference in front of the National Assembly in the morning, stating, "The National Assembly should properly listen to the demands of non-regular workers and civil society."
The Employment and Labor Bill Review Subcommittee of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee will discuss the amendment to the Trade Union Act on this day. During the press conference, labor representatives stated, "The Ministry of Labor explained opinions on the recent amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act, but they brought a proposal that is regressive compared to the one passed by the National Assembly last year."
Yang Kyung-soo, Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), stated, "I sternly warn the Democratic Party members of the Environment and Labor Committee," adding, "Workers must feel the efficacy of the regime change in a tangible way." Jeong Yeon-sil, the Executive Vice Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), remarked that if the Democratic Party, which led the passage of the yellow envelope law during its time in opposition, regresses on it, it would be a negation of itself and would lead to being shunned by workers.
Vice Chairperson Kim noted that the government's proposed amendment to the Trade Union Act drastically reduces the provisions on liability for damages related to industrial actions, and that the expanded scope for employers and workers has also lost its significance, saying, "There are even provisions that allow the government to unilaterally determine the subjects, methods, and procedures of collective bargaining."
Labor representatives asserted that the amendment to the Trade Union Act must include provisions for protecting the labor rights of special employment workers (independent contractors), a clause for recognizing the employer status of primary contractors for indirect employment workers, and a provision preventing personal damage claims against the union arising from decisions made by the union.
The yellow envelope law strengthens the liability of primary corporations for workers belonging to subcontractors, expands the scope of industrial actions, and limits corporate claims for damages arising from illegal strikes. It passed twice in the National Assembly under the leadership of the Democratic Party during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, but former President Yoon Suk-yeol exercised the right of veto, resulting in the failure of the legislation.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has been holding an indefinite sit-in protest in front of the National Assembly since the 21st, demanding the immediate passage of the yellow envelope law. There are also forecasts that the yellow envelope law could be passed during the extraordinary session of the National Assembly in July.
Kim Joo-young, a member of the Democratic Party and the ruling party's secretary of the Environment and Labor Committee, spoke with reporters after a closed-door party-government working meeting held at the National Assembly, responding to a question about whether the goal is to pass the yellow envelope law in the plenary session on Aug. 4, saying, "We will proceed with that as a goal."
Member Kim explained the specifics of the yellow envelope law, stating, "There has been considerable convergence of opinions," and that they coordinated their views to include more detailed content based on the law that had been vetoed last year, adding that regarding the scope of industrial actions and grace periods, "We intend to stick closely to the law that was vetoed at that time."