Yellow Envelope Act Passes National Assembly Plenary Session Amid Ruling Party's Absence

Among 174 Jaeseok members, 173 in favor, 1 abstention
People Power Party lawmakers exit

The amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act (the Yellow Envelope Act) passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 9th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the plenary session held at the National Assembly that day, the Yellow Envelope Act was approved with 173 votes in favor and 1 abstention out of 174 members present. The People Power Party did not participate in the vote, and the bill was processed under the leadership of the Democratic Party.

The Yellow Envelope Act includes provisions that allow parties who are not signatories to the labor contract but who have a position to substantially and concretely control and determine the working conditions of workers?such as the original contractor?to be regarded as employers, and limits claims for damages related to labor disputes. The Yellow Envelope Act was proposed during the 21st National Assembly following the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering subcontractor union strike trial.

The Democratic Party, after the amendment bill passed the relevant Environment and Labor Committee but was delayed for a long time in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, directly referred it to the plenary session.

The People Power Party prepared a filibuster (unlimited debate to legally obstruct parliamentary proceedings) in response to the Democratic Party’s forced processing but canceled it at the last minute.

On that day, Floor Leader Yoon Jae-ok told reporters after the party meeting, "Our party has decided not to conduct a filibuster." He added, "We ask the public to understand and support that we had no choice but to give up the filibuster to prevent the Democratic Party’s bad political intention to impeach the chairman of the Korea Communications Commission and thereby paralyze the functions of the state agency for a long time."