Condemnation of the "Democratic Yellow Envelope Law Legislative Rush"... Recommendation of Veto to the President

Ruling party lawmakers belonging to the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee have voiced opposition to the so-called 'Yellow Envelope Act' legislative schedule being pushed forward.

On the 28th, People Power Party lawmakers in the Environment and Labor Committee stated, "We strongly condemn the Democratic Party's unilateral enforcement of the legislative schedule and legislative rampage in the Environment and Labor Committee," and announced they would recommend the president exercise the right to request reconsideration.

At the 2nd Environment and Labor Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th, the seats of the Cabinet members were empty. Members of the People Power Party and Cabinet members did not attend this meeting. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office, ruling party lawmakers including Kim Hyeong-dong, the committee's secretary, said regarding the Yellow Envelope Act being promoted mainly by the opposition in the Environment and Labor Committee, "We will recommend the president exercise the right to request reconsideration for bills that have not undergone proper legislative review by the National Assembly."

They pointed out, "The Democratic Party's amendment to the Labor Union Act is an unconstitutional and law-damaging bad law," and criticized, "The Democratic Party is pushing legislation solely for political purposes and to resolve complaints from some militant labor unions, without any consideration of the impact on labor-management relations and the national economy."

The Yellow Envelope Act refers to the amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. The core of the bill is to strengthen the responsibility of the primary contractor for subcontracted workers and to limit companies' claims for damages against striking workers.

The amendment was passed through the plenary session under the opposition's leadership during the 21st National Assembly term. However, it was discarded after President Yoon Seok-yeol exercised his veto power, failing to clear the final hurdle.