On the first day that the yellow envelope law, a new labor law aimed at strengthening the bargaining rights of subcontract workers (amended Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act), took effect, the two major umbrella unions, including the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), signaled plans to expand their organizations and pursue bargaining between parent companies and subcontractor unions.
The Federation of Korean Trade Unions held a proclamation ceremony for the "2 million organizing task force" on the morning of the 10th. The federation said it would launch a full-scale organizing drive that includes subcontract workers as well as specially employed, platform, and freelance workers. It set a goal to expand the organization by 10% every year.
Ryu Ki-seop, secretary-general of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions who is heading the task force, said, "The number of specially employed, platform, and freelance workers has surged to more than 7 million, but they remain exposed to legal blind spots and precarious employment conditions," adding, "The Federation of Korean Trade Unions will make every effort to broaden the scope of organizing so they can have their rights protected within the umbrella of a labor union and have the value of their labor recognized."
The yellow envelope law, a new labor law aimed at strengthening the bargaining rights of subcontract workers, is expected to serve as a lever. With its implementation, subcontract workers can demand bargaining with the parent corporations even if they are not in a direct labor relationship. The scope of union disputes is also expanded, and corporations' claims for damages over legitimate industrial actions are restricted.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) will hold a "struggle proclamation rally" at 2 p.m. on Sejong-daero in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 10th. The number of participants reported to police is 15,000.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) says it aims to make this year the first year for bargaining between parent companies and subcontractor unions. After the proclamation rally, the KCTU plans to send official letters requesting talks to parent companies.
In a statement the same day, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) said, "We have endured with our bodies the years of exploitation, trapped in the shackle of indirect employment without even seeing the face of the 'real boss,'" adding, "Today's enforcement of the law is a declaration of victory that, after 23 years, confirms in the name of the rule of law the common sense that 'the party that substantively controls my labor is the employer.'"
It added, "Parent-company employers, come to the bargaining table," and said, "The law has changed, and there is no longer any basis to ignore subcontract workers' demands."
In business circles, there are concerns that confusion could continue on industrial sites after the yellow envelope law, a new labor law aimed at strengthening the bargaining rights of subcontract workers, takes effect.
The Korea Enterprises Federation (KEF) earlier said in a statement, "We are concerned about labor-management disputes, as some unions have declared they will demand negotiations even if they are not recognized as qualified to bargain," adding, "Even before the law took effect, there were illegal shows of force, such as subcontractor unions occupying business sites while demanding the parent company participate in talks."
The KEF said, "For stability in labor-management relations, the labor movement should refrain from making demands in collective bargaining with parent corporations that go beyond the recognized scope of employer status," adding, "The government should also, in line with the recently released interpretation guidelines, judge objectively and fairly whether the parent company has employer status."