Six Economic Organizations Make Last-Minute Appeal Against Yellow Envelope Act.. "Delay Implementation by 1 Year and Negotiate"

[Financial News] As the Yellow Envelope Act (amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act) is scheduled to be enforced under the leadership of the Democratic Party, the six economic organizations, together with the People Power Party, made a last-minute appeal on the 18th to prevent the unilateral passage of the bill. If the National Assembly plenary session cannot be stopped, they requested that the implementation period be delayed by more than a year to reflect labor-management consultations. 
The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea Economic Association, the Korea International Trade Association, the Korea Employers Federation, the Korea Mid-sized Business Association, and the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall on this day and made this demand. The press conference was organized by Representative Kim Hyung-dong, the People Power Party's secretary of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee.
The core of the Yellow Envelope Act is to limit claims for damages against striking workers and to grant subcontractor workers the right to negotiate with the principal contractor. The six economic organizations requested that the scope not be excessively expanded while maintaining its intent, and asked for the implementation period to be postponed by at least one year even if the bill passes the National Assembly threshold for additional consultations. 
Son Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, emphasized maintaining the current status, stating, "If hundreds of subcontractor unions demand negotiations, the principal contractor cannot respond to each case, leading to chaos in the industrial field." Regarding the expansion of the concept of labor disputes, Chairman Son appealed, "The amendment targets business management decisions that affect working conditions, and if restructuring and overseas investment become subjects of disputes, it will be difficult to conduct business in global competition."
Chairman Son insisted, "If the law is amended, the implementation should be delayed by at least one year to fully gather labor-management opinions and prepare measures to minimize industrial confusion," and urged, "Important amendments to the labor union law, including the allowance of multiple unions, have been achieved through social dialogue with labor participation. Even now, I strongly request that the economic community's alternatives be accepted."
After announcing the statement, Chairman Son met with reporters and expressed concerns that if the Yellow Envelope Act passes as it is, the overseas relocation of our companies will be inevitable. He pointed out, "If it passes as it is, overseas investment by companies will increase significantly, while domestic investment will not proceed smoothly, resulting in blocking job opportunities for our workers."
Chairman Son later met privately with Song Eon-seok, the emergency committee chairman and floor leader of the People Power Party, and is conducting behind-the-scenes persuasion battles with the Democratic Party at the economic community level.
Representative Kim Hyung-dong, who hosted the press conference of the six economic organizations, stated, "The amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act should be done through labor-management agreement, not unilaterally pushed by the Democratic Party," and "I hope the issues raised by the six economic organizations regarding the expansion of the user scope and the concept of labor disputes are sufficiently reflected in the government and ruling party's proposal."
The six economic organizations and the People Power Party plan to announce a statement in front of the National Assembly main building steps on the 19th. It is a last-minute public opinion battle by the economic community, given that the Yellow Envelope Act and other contentious bills will be processed sequentially at the plenary session starting on the 21st.
The Yellow Envelope Act is expected to be put to a vote at the National Assembly plenary session after the 23rd. The Broadcasting Act 2 will be addressed first, followed by the Yellow Envelope Act and the second amendment to the Commercial Act, as the People Power Party plans to engage in a filibuster (unlimited debate for legitimate obstruction of proceedings under the National Assembly Act) for each bill. After 24 hours of the filibuster initiation for each bill, it will be suspended and a vote will be conducted at the request of the Democratic Party and other pro-government forces.

uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yoon-ho Kim Hyung-gu Reporter