Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor said he would consider reinvestigating the case of MBC weathercaster the late Oh Yo-anna, who made an extreme choice due to workplace bullying.
On the afternoon of the 18th, during a government question session held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, the Minister said, "I feel sorry that the bereaved family cannot accept the results and that the hunger strike is dragging on," adding, "I will consider (a reinvestigation)."
Earlier, the Labor Ministry set up a special labor inspection team at the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office and the Seoul Western District Office and conducted a special labor inspection of MBC. After a three-month investigation, the ministry concluded on the 5th that "there were acts of bullying against the deceased."
However, it said that because the person was a freelancer, she could not be regarded as a "worker" under the Labor Standards Act, so the legal provision on "workplace bullying" could not be applied. The Labor Standards Act, which specifies the prohibition of workplace bullying, applies to workers at business sites with five or more regular employees.
Meanwhile, the Minister reiterated his existing stance on the "Yellow Envelope Act" (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act), scheduled to take effect in March next year, calling it "a law to resolve our chronic problems of a dual labor market structure and wage gaps between parent companies and subcontractors," and "a negotiation facilitation law that allows subcontracted workers to negotiate with parent companies that have practical control, as well as a serious accident prevention law that can also reduce serious accidents."
Regarding claims that recent strikes in the manufacturing sector, including at Hyundai Motor and GM Korea, are because of the Yellow Envelope Act, he said, "These are strikes in the regular wage and collective bargaining process that occur regardless of the Yellow Envelope Act," adding, "There was talk that Hyundai Steel's nonregular workers demanded the 'real boss' come out because of the Yellow Envelope Act, but that was not the case."
On claims that this law is for hard-line unions such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), he said, "Unionization rates are 5% at corporations with fewer than 300 employees, 1% with fewer than 100, and just 0.1% at most subcontractors," adding, "It is about providing a channel for subcontracted workers to negotiate (with parent companies)."
The Minister said, "It's a path we have never taken before, but we will keep all possibilities open and prepare countermeasures," adding, "Over six months (before the law takes effect), we will draw up detailed guidelines so that there are no setbacks in enforcement."