Labor Union Act Ahead of Plenary Session... Labor Sector: "Must Pass Without Retreat"

[Financial News] As the handling of the Labor Union Act 2·3 Amendment is expected at the National Assembly plenary session starting on the 21st, the labor sector has stepped up to urge the swift passage of the bill. They emphasized that although there are shortcomings in the amendment, it is the minimum legislation to prevent unfair labor practices by companies.
The National Democratic Labor Union Confederation (Minju-nochong) Labor Union Act 2·3 Amendment Movement Headquarters held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the morning of the 18th, stating, "The Labor Union Act 2·3 Amendment is about to pass the August extraordinary National Assembly plenary session," and "The National Assembly must amend the Labor Union Act immediately, without retreat."
The so-called 'Yellow Envelope Act' Labor Union Act 2·3 Amendment aims to strengthen the primary responsibility for subcontracted workers, expand the scope of industrial action, and limit companies' claims for damages against striking workers. It is also one of the bills considered a long-standing wish of the labor sector.
This amendment passed the National Assembly plenary session twice in November 2023 and August last year, led by the current ruling party, the Democratic Party of Korea, but was vetoed by then-President Yoon Seok-yeol. Subsequently, the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee reintroduced the amendment, which passed the subcommittee on the 28th of last month, leaving only the plenary session passage.
On this day, Park Rae-gun, co-representative, said, "The amendment does not modify the definition of workers and does not completely block claims for damages against individual workers, which is unsatisfactory, but I hope it passes quickly," adding, "The Yellow Envelope Act aims to promote dialogue between labor and management at the negotiation table, and the passage of the Labor Union Act can change the corporate practices that have oppressed labor rights by relying on illegal, expedient, and unfair labor practices."
Co-representative Jo Young-seon also stated, "Workers have evolved into multi-layered forms such as special employment, dispatch, and platform workers, but the concept of workers and employers has not changed even once in the 70 years since the Labor Union Act was enacted," adding, "It has been established through multiple rulings that those who exert substantial influence over working conditions are employers, and the Labor Union Act is the minimum legislation that belatedly reflects over ten years of accumulated rulings."
However, the business sector is expressing concerns that the amendment of the Labor Union Act may negatively impact labor-management relations. The six economic organizations, including the Korea Employers Federation, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Korean Industries, the Korea International Trade Association, the Korea Federation of SMEs, and the Korea Federation of Medium Enterprises, issued a joint statement on the morning of the same day, urging the acceptance of the economic sector's amendment, which maintains the current scope of employers.
Nevertheless, the labor sector maintains that the business sector is instigating unfounded fears about the Labor Union Act and insists that the amendment must pass without wavering.
The Labor Union Act Amendment Movement Headquarters stated, "The business sector has been pressuring unions by filing huge claims for damages when unions protest against their illegal acts, concealing their faults," adding, "What the National Assembly should do is to establish an institutional foundation so that the business sector, which has squeezed workers and gained profits through illegal acts, can now manage companies properly through negotiations with unions."

welcome@fnnews.com Jang Yu-ha Reporter