National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee, 'Yellow Vest Law' Discord Continues... Opposition: "Considering Ssangyong Motor Verdict" Ruling Party: "Legislative Domination by the Grand Coalition"

Ongoing Ruling Party and Opposition Dispute Over Opposition's Solo Submission of Yellow Envelope Act
Opposition: "Ssangyong Motor Ruling Strengthens Legitimacy of Yellow Envelope Act"
Ruling Party: "Pushing Pro-Minnocho Law with Majority Seats"

Lee Jung-mi, leader of the Justice Party, is speaking at the 'Justice Party Sit-in Protest for the Enactment of the Yellow Envelope Act' press conference on the steps in front of the National Assembly main building on the 30th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] At the full meeting of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee held on the 1st, discord between the ruling and opposition parties continued over the Yellow Envelope Act (Amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act).

The Democratic Party emphasized the legitimacy of the Yellow Envelope Act by citing the example of the Supreme Court's recent ruling that overturned a decision ordering the Ssangyong Motor workers’ strike in 2009 against mass layoffs to pay damages amounting to billions of won. On the other hand, the People Power Party raised criticism, accusing the Democratic Party of repeatedly exercising power based on its 'giant opposition' status with 169 seats.

Jin Sung-jun, a Democratic Party lawmaker who requested to speak on current issues at the full meeting, said, “During the national audit, there was discussion about the need to review and revise the amendment to the Labor Union Act, but regrettably, there is disagreement over whether to put this bill on the agenda,” adding, “The floor leaders of both parties should conduct the meeting smoothly to resolve this issue.”

Kim Young-jin, chairman of the Employment and Labor Bill Subcommittee and a Democratic Party lawmaker, also said, “It is rare to oppose even putting a bill on the agenda,” and added, “The National Assembly should discuss contentious issues, and if there is opposition, express it during the voting process.” Kim directly criticized, “It seems the People Power Party is frozen under President Yoon’s guidelines and cannot even engage in free discussion.” Jeon Hae-cheol, chairman of the Environment and Labor Committee, mentioned the Ssangyong Motor Supreme Court precedent to highlight the legitimacy and appropriateness of the Yellow Envelope Act discussion.

On the 30th, at the Employment and Labor Law Review Subcommittee of the Environment and Labor Committee held in the National Assembly, as the opposition parties including the Democratic Party of Korea proposed the Yellow Envelope Act, Im Eija, a member of the People Power Party, protested and left the meeting room. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Ruling party members of the Environment and Labor Committee immediately pushed back. Im E-ja, a People Power Party lawmaker who left the meeting in protest against the agenda setting of the Yellow Envelope Act the day before, criticized, “Even now, legitimate strikes are guaranteed under the three labor rights, and civil liability is exempted. The current amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act is a bill for and by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Minnochoong).” Im pointed out, “Therefore, it is unacceptable, and it is regrettable that the Democratic Party forcibly pushed the bill onto the agenda yesterday.”

Park Dae-soo of the People Power Party also said, “The president’s message is that reforming the dual structure of the labor market comes first,” adding, “President Yoon has never given any instructions or mentioned anything regarding the Yellow Envelope Act.” He further explained, “If the dual structure of the labor market is improved, there will be no more injunctions on damages or strikes.”

In response, Lee Soo-jin, a proportional representative lawmaker from the Democratic Party, said, “The functions of the legislative and executive branches are clearly different, but you are speaking as if you are representing the head of the executive branch,” which led to a verbal clash between the ruling and opposition parties in the Environment and Labor Committee’s full meeting.

Meanwhile, the Yellow Envelope Act, which began deliberations in the Employment and Labor Bill Subcommittee from the previous day, aims to limit companies’ indiscriminate claims for damages against workers’ industrial actions and broaden the concept of employer to include subcontracted workers. Although the review started by narrowing down the Democratic Party and Justice Party proposals, a painful process is expected over the passage through the standing committee and plenary session due to the significant differences between the ruling and opposition parties.

This bill originated from the yellow envelopes containing donations to support union members who were sued for 4.7 billion won during the 2014 Ssangyong Motor strike. It is a highly contentious issue between labor and business sectors and was proposed in the 19th and 20th National Assemblies but failed to pass each time.