High-Level Party-Government Meeting Actively Plans to Amend Related Laws
Democratic Party Demands Government Take Preliminary Measures on Three Major Preconditions
Variables Include Labor Sector Opposition from Democratic Party's Environment and Labor Committee Members
The ruling party and the government are pushing for a plan to postpone the expansion of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act to workplaces with fewer than 50 employees for two years, but related legislation is expected to face difficulties. The Democratic Party of Korea has stated that discussions on amendments are possible under three major conditions, including an official apology from the government, raising the possibility of finding common ground between the ruling and opposition parties. However, opposition from labor groups ahead of next year's general election could become a variable.
On the 4th, Hong Ik-pyo, leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, "As a condition for the two-year postponement of the expansion of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, there must be an official apology from the government for doing nothing during the two-year grace period, a more concrete plan and financial support measures for industrial safety over the next two years, and a firm promise from economic organizations that the law will be applied to all companies after the extension period." He added, "Since there is not much time left for negotiations, there must be a sincere change in attitude and concrete proposals."
He also said, "We proposed passing an amendment to the Small and Medium Enterprise Cooperative Act, which strengthens the bargaining power of small and medium enterprises by guaranteeing joint actions, as requested by SMEs," and emphasized, "If this is not approved, we cannot discuss the two-year postponement." This newly demands linking the government's official apology with the amendment to the Small and Medium Enterprise Cooperative Act.
Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Earlier, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader, Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister, and Kim Dae-gi, Chief Presidential Secretary, held a high-level party-government meeting the day before and decided to actively pursue a plan to postpone for two years the application of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which was scheduled to be expanded from next month on the 27th to companies with 5 or more regular workers and fewer than 50 employees, regardless of industry.
The related law is currently pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee after being proposed by Im E-ja, the People Power Party's ranking member of the Environment and Labor Committee, and no discussions have yet taken place at the standing committee level. Jeong Jeom-sik, the ruling party's ranking member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said in a phone call, "We are trying to speed up the process," and added, "If the Democratic Party agrees to the amendment, it can be resolved at any time."
Within the ruling party, there is a mood that the three preconditions requested by Floor Leader Hong can be accepted. A People Power Party floor official said, "We are considering accepting the Democratic Party's demands, including an apology," and "The Democratic Party also recognizes the seriousness of this issue, so if a kind of 'gesture of sincerity' is exchanged, the atmosphere for legal amendment will be created."
However, opposition from labor groups and within the Democratic Party remains a variable. The Legislation and Judiciary Committee originally planned to submit Im's amendment to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act on the 22nd of last month, but it was canceled due to the Democratic Party's request to hold off on the submission. Regarding this, Lee Soo-jin, the Democratic Party's ranking member of the Environment and Labor Committee, said, "When listening to opinions from labor groups and experts, they say the extension should not be allowed," and added, "Now that the Economic, Social and Labor Council has been reactivated with the participation of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, social discussion on this issue should come first. Throwing this issue into the National Assembly without such a process is too irresponsible and one-sided."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
