KCCI "Amendment to the Trade Union Act Enforcement Decree Causes Confusion in Industrial Sites... Supplementary Legislation Needed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] The business community strongly opposed the passage of the amended Enforcement Decree of the Labor Union Act at the Cabinet meeting on the 22nd, claiming that it would strengthen the power of labor unions.

The Korea Employers Federation (KEF) issued a statement on the same day, stating, "With the amended Labor Union Act taking effect on the 6th of next month, allowing dismissed workers and unemployed individuals to join labor unions and removing the prohibition on paying salaries to full-time union officials, significant confusion is expected in the industrial field."

As a priority supplementary measure, KEF argued, "Obligations to comply with rules regarding workplace entry and facility use should be imposed on non-working union members when conducting union activities within the workplace, and prior approval from the employer should be mandated when non-working union members enter locations other than the union office."

They also emphasized, "Since the amended Labor Union Act extends the validity period of collective agreements to a maximum of three years, in order for the law to function properly, the period during which the bargaining representative labor union maintains its bargaining representative rights should be extended from the current two years to three years."

Furthermore, they added, "To prevent confusion in the industrial field and social costs arising from disputes over the qualifications or legality of labor unions, a legal basis should be established to cancel the establishment registration of labor unions that are found to have disqualifications after the fact, rather than allowing voluntary correction."

KEF called on the government and the National Assembly to promptly begin supplementary legislation on the Labor Union Act to restore the balance of power between labor and management.