The Value of Labor Attorneys Soars with the Yellow Envelope Act: Samsung, SK, and Other Top 5 Groups Rush to Hire

[Financial News] Major affiliates of the top 5 groups, including Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, and Lotte, have started hiring labor attorneys and other labor relations specialists in response to the 'Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act Amendment' (Yellow Envelope Act). As these major companies compete to secure labor attorneys, it was confirmed that the demand for labor attorneys in August alone surged nearly 43% compared to the same period last year. Already, subcontractor unions of Samsung Electronics, Naver, Hyundai Steel, and Hanwha Ocean are demanding direct negotiations with these primary companies. 
■ "Looking for Labor Attorneys"...42.8% Increase in One Year
According to the Korea Certified Public Labor Attorneys Association, the number of requests for labor attorneys in August this year was a total of 80, a 42.8% increase compared to 56 in the same period last year. This figure includes both private companies and labor law firms.
Notably, most of the top 5 groups are looking for labor attorneys. In the case of the Samsung Group, both Samsung Life and Samsung Heavy Industries are hiring labor attorneys. Samsung Life is hiring new employees, while Samsung Heavy Industries is hiring experienced ones. Samsung Heavy Industries has narrowed the qualification to those with more than 4 years of experience and added '3 years or more experience in a labor law firm' as a preferred condition. The intention is to utilize them immediately upon hiring.
In the SK Group, SK Bioscience is hiring experienced labor staff. The qualification requirements specify 'more than 2 years of experience'. Hyundai Motor Group's subsidiary Hyundai Motor Securities also accepted applications for labor attorneys with more than 7 years of experience until the end of last month. Additionally, Lotte Global Logistics of the Lotte Group and LS Electric of the LS Group have hired or are hiring labor attorneys. Posts seeking labor attorneys continue to appear as of September 1.
Their main tasks include responding to labor unions, managing field department organizations, collaborating on labor law-related matters, and checking risks and issues. Some companies are looking for personnel management labor attorneys, but most emphasize responding to labor unions as a core duty. Labor attorney A (working at a large corporate group), who requested anonymity, said, "Certainly, the demand for labor attorneys in companies has increased recently," adding, "Many of my peers also feel this."
■ Companies Say "Responding to Each Scenario is Essential"
The biggest reason for the increased demand for labor attorneys in companies is the recent impact of the Yellow Envelope Act passed by the National Assembly. The amended labor union law includes provisions that recognize the employer status of the primary company based on the degree of control over subcontractor unions that do not have a direct contractual relationship. The legal and financial burdens that companies must bear in the event of labor disputes are bound to increase. With union negotiation power significantly strengthened, it has become essential to prepare strategies for preventing and responding to disputes, according to industry explanations. Industry insiders said, "The role of labor attorneys has grown larger."
The movements of subcontractor workers are already emerging. Last month, subcontractor workers of Hyundai Steel filed a collective lawsuit against the management, claiming illegal dispatch and refusal to negotiate by the primary company, and unions of six subsidiaries under Naver held rallies demanding direct negotiations. They have recently staged intense protests, demanding "the president come out and negotiate."
The industry anticipates that lawsuits and rallies by subcontractors will continue incessantly, further increasing the demand for labor attorneys. A large company official predicted, "It is necessary to immediately devise response scenarios for each labor issue the company faces," adding, "Having an in-house labor attorney makes it easier to respond in such situations. The demand for labor attorneys will continue to increase for the time being." 
kjh0109@fnnews.com Jun-ho Kwon, Soo-bin Lim, Reporters