The possibility of a dramatic agreement has increased after negotiations between the ruling and opposition parties on a bill to postpone the application of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (Serious Accidents Punishment Act) to workplaces with fewer than 50 employees. The government and the ruling party proposed a negotiation plan that partially accepts the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA), which the opposition party had presented as a condition for postponing the Serious Accidents Punishment Act. The ruling and opposition parties plan to postpone the decision on whether to process the related law to the originally scheduled plenary session and decide after further negotiations.
It is reported that on the 29th, President Yoon Seok-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, the emergency committee chairman, along with the People Power Party leadership, had a long discussion regarding the Serious Accidents Punishment Act during their luncheon meeting. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On the 1st, Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, introduced the negotiation details related to the Serious Accidents Punishment Act to reporters after an emergency meeting held at the party office. Floor leader Yoon said, "Yesterday afternoon, I met with Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party, and proposed a compromise negotiation plan on the Democratic Party's demands," adding, "We proposed changing the OSHA to the Occupational Safety and Health Support Agency (Support Agency) and removing the investigation department to create an organization focused on prevention and support." He continued, "We proposed a plan to postpone the Serious Accidents Punishment Act for two years and open the Support Agency two years later," and added, "We expect the Democratic Party's position to come out through the Democratic Party's parliamentary meeting."
Regarding the reason for changing OSHA to the Support Agency, Floor leader Yoon explained, "Originally, even during the Moon Jae-in administration, this was attempted but failed because the extension of regulatory periods at the field level could cause more difficult field issues than the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, so it was halted."
This proposal was the result of prior discussions on the 29th of last month between Han Dong-hoon, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, and the Presidential Office. Floor leader Yoon said, "Previously, Han Dong-hoon, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, myself, the Presidential Office Chief of Staff, the Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, and the Senior Secretary for Public Relations met and had a long discussion on the Serious Accidents Punishment Act." A senior official from the Presidential Office responded in a phone call with Asia Economy on the same day, saying, "We are open to and reviewing the establishment of OSHA, which the opposition party has demanded."
The Democratic Party stated that it will continue internal discussions regarding this matter.
Yoon Young-duk, spokesperson for the Democratic Party floor, said to reporters at the National Assembly on the same day, "If the ruling party has sincerely prepared measures to prevent serious accidents, we plan to continue consultations," adding, "Whether it will be possible today depends on the results of the consultations."
As the ruling and opposition parties enter negotiations over the Serious Accidents Punishment Act issue, the plenary session was delayed from the originally scheduled 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
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