"Ruling Party Labor Regulations, Jobs Devastated"... Opposition Claims 'Yellow Envelope Act and 52-Hour Workweek Easing'

Na Kyung-won of the People Power Party is speaking at a forum on the side effects of the "Yellow Envelope Law" 52-hour workweek regulation and the future of labor policies to protect citizens' jobs, held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 30th. Newsis [Financial News] On the 30th, the People Power Party criticized the "Yellow Envelope Law" (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act) and the 52-hour workweek system, calling them "policies that will destroy jobs in South Korea. " The People Power Party argues that, given the increasing chaos on the ground caused by the Yellow Envelope Law, they should push for a revision to exclude violence and workplace occupation from the scope of protection for illegal acts, and that the 52-hour workweek system should be gradually relaxed.
Rep. Na Kyung-won and Rep. Lim I-ja, along with the parliamentary research group 'Population, Climate, and Tomorrow,' hosted a forum titled 'Side Effects of the Yellow Envelope Law and 52-Hour Week Regulations and the Future of Labor Policy for Protecting National Jobs' at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on this day.
Rep. Na pointed out, "With the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets continuing to decline for two days, citizens who invested believing the words of everyone, including the President, urging them to invest in stocks are shedding tears of blood," adding, "This is because the Lee Jae-myung administration has consistently pursued policies solely for labor unions, rather than strengthening South Korea's economy, capital, and labor markets. " She stated, "The Yellow Envelope Law and the 52-hour workweek are representative pro-union policies, but they are not policies for real workers; rather, they are policies that create a union paradise," adding, "They indefinitely expand the prime contractor's bargaining obligations and the union's liability for damages.
" "It is becoming a major problem due to the imbalance that is being eliminated," he said. Companies also predicted that they would not invest domestically due to the Yellow Envelope Law. It was mentioned that the government and the ruling party intend to apply an exception to the 52-hour workweek to the 'Mega Special Zone Act,' using the establishment of the Honam Semiconductor Cluster as an opportunity.
Representative Na emphasized, "We must expand exceptions to the 52-hour workweek system where necessary, not only for the Honam semiconductor industry but for industries across the board. " Representative Lim I-ja, formerly of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, stated, "Advanced AI technology is changing the industrial landscape, and future industries such as semiconductors are racing ahead in global competition. " She added, "The side effects of the 'Yellow Envelope Law' and the 52-hour workweek regulation are directly linked to protecting citizens' jobs, and we cannot leave things as they are.
" Representative Lim continued, "Since the implementation of the Yellow Envelope Law, industrial sites have become more chaotic and uncertain. The public is concerned that rigid 52-hour regulations are hindering corporate competitiveness and job creation by failing to adequately reflect the characteristics of industries and work.
" She further noted, "Misguided regulations become shackles for businesses, high thresholds for young people, and barriers blocking the path to a second chance for middle-aged and older workers. We need a balanced labor reform that boldly overhauls uniform regulations, enhances autonomy and flexibility in the workplace, while clearly establishing laws and principles to provide stronger protection for workers.
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