Ruling and Opposition Parties Meet at Environment and Labor Committee Subcommittee to Discuss 'Noranbongtu Law'... End Without Agreement

The ruling and opposition parties met to coordinate their opinions on the Yellow Envelope Act (amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act) but failed to achieve any significant outcome.

On the 9th, the Subcommittee on Employment Labor Law under the Environment and Labor Committee was held at the National Assembly.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 9th, Kim Ju-young, Chair of the Employment and Labor Legislation Review Subcommittee of the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee (Environment and Labor Committee), held a subcommittee meeting with seven lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. The subcommittee was convened to review the Yellow Envelope Act, which had been submitted to the full Environment and Labor Committee meeting under the leadership of the opposition.

The subcommittee concluded without passing the Yellow Envelope Act, instead listening to the government's opinions and reading through the bill. After the meeting, Chair Kim told reporters, "Today, we only had discussions," adding, "We just reviewed it and ended." Kim Hyung-dong, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, also stated, "We agreed to approach a common opinion going forward."

It is expected that the opposition will submit the Yellow Envelope Act to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee after passing it in the subcommittee. The opposition holds the view that the urgency and importance of the Yellow Envelope Act are significant to prevent violations of the three labor rights of subcontracted and platform workers. Members of the Environment and Labor Committee from the Democratic Party stated in a press release on the 28th of last month, "The Democratic Party can no longer delay amendments to the Labor Union Act to resolve issues of damages and provisional seizures that destroy workers' lives," adding, "This bill directly affects the lives and livelihoods of our people and socially vulnerable groups."

On the other hand, the People Power Party opposes the passage of the Yellow Envelope Act, citing significant side effects, including the inability to hold unions accountable for illegal strikes. Members of the Environment and Labor Committee from the People Power Party also said, "We cannot just watch an unagreed bill that may bring tremendous upheaval to the labor field," warning, "If confusion in the labor field becomes a burden for workers, employers, and the public, this bill will be a disaster."