"Yellow Envelope Act" Submitted to National Assembly Plenary... Ruling and Opposition Parties Launch Filibuster

Amid Opposition from the Business Community, Bill Submitted on the Morning of August 23
People Power Party Launches Filibuster; Democratic Party Submits Motion to End Debate
Democratic Party Plans Vote After Ending Filibuster Tomorrow

The amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, commonly known as the "Yellow Envelope Act," was submitted to the plenary session of the National Assembly on August 23, moving forward in the legislative process.

The National Assembly tabled the bill that morning, after which a filibuster (a lawful obstruction of proceedings through unlimited debate) was initiated at the request of the People Power Party.

The filibuster was kicked off by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hyungdong at around 9:09 a.m. The Democratic Party, which holds an overwhelming majority of seats, immediately submitted a motion to end the filibuster. As a result, a vote to end the debate is expected to take place 24 hours later, on the morning of August 24, followed by a vote on the Yellow Envelope Act.

The core of this bill is to expand the definition of employers and the scope of labor disputes, and to limit companies' claims for damages against striking workers. It is one of the bills that was scrapped after President Yoon Suk-yeol exercised his right to request reconsideration (veto). Led by the Democratic Party, the bill passed the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee and other relevant committees on July 28 and was referred to the plenary session. The business community, which has strongly opposed the bill, continued to express its opposition and demanded revisions from the National Assembly until the last minute.

Economic organizations such as the Korea Employers Federation and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry held an "opposition rally" at the National Assembly on August 19, stating, "The amendment to the Trade Union Act justifies industrial action by subcontractor unions against primary contractors and makes even business management decisions subject to labor disputes, putting our economy at risk."

In this regard, President Lee Jaemyung, at a meeting with business leaders accompanying his overseas trip on the same day, expressed his determination to push through the Yellow Envelope Act, saying, "In principle, there are areas where we need to align with advanced countries."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party plans to table the so-called "Stronger Commercial Act" amendment on August 24, following the processing of the Yellow Envelope Act. If the second amendment to the Commercial Act is passed on August 25, the filibuster showdown that has been ongoing since the beginning of the month to address the three broadcasting bills will come to an end, at least for now.