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| ▲ Minor progressive Justice Party leader Lee Jeong-mi (C) holds a press conference at the National Assembly on Feb. 21, 2023, pledging to pass a pro-labor bill nicknamed the "yellow envelope bill." (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Rep. Lim Lee-ja (L) of the ruling People Power Party speaks to Rep. Jeon Hae-chel of the main opposition Democratic Party, who heads the parliamentary labor and environment committee, at a committee plenary meeting at the National Assembly on Feb. 21, 2023. (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) opposition parties-labor bill
(LEAD) Opposition parties railroad pro-labor bill through parliamentary committee
(ATTN: UPDATES with ruling party's response, photo)
By Lee Minji
SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Yonhap) -- A contentious pro-labor bill restricting damages suits against striking workers passed through the opposition-controlled parliamentary labor committee Tuesday, moving a step closer to its final passage amid protest from the ruling party and businesses.
The main opposition Democratic Party and the minor opposition Justice Party passed the revision to the Trade Union And Labor Relations Adjustment Act through the committee after members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) walked out of the meeting in protest.
The two opposition parties hold a majority in the committee.
The revision guarantees the bargaining rights of indirectly employed workers and prohibits litigation for damages and provisional seizures against unionized workers for the purpose of suppressing their strikes, which could make it difficult for employers to file complaints against illegal strikes by their workers and exempt laborers from liability for holding illegal strikes.
It has been nicknamed the "yellow envelope bill" after a person donated 47,000 won (US$36) in cash in a yellow envelope to unionized SsangYong Motor Co. workers following a 2013 court ruling that ordered them to pay 4.7 billion won for causing losses in a strike.
The PPP and business lobbies have opposed the bill, saying it gives excessive immunity to unionized workers and could potentially hurt smaller businesses.
"If foreign capital does not make investments and domestic capital goes abroad due to militant labor-management relations, I believe that some 10 million vulnerable workers will have to bear the brunt," Rep. Lim Lee-ja of the PPP said, claiming that the existing law is sufficient to protect workers and their rights.
Labor Minister Lee Jeong-sik has also urged the National Assembly to reconsider the pro-labor bill, saying the envisioned enactment would "shake the foundation of the rule of law," and argued the bill could cause uncertainty and unpredictability for employers.
Following Tuesday's passage, the bill will be referred to the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee. But it is widely believed that the bill may not pass through as the committee is headed by a PPP lawmaker.
In that the case, opposition parties are expected to present the bill directly to parliament's plenary session. Bills can be directly referred to the plenary session if they are pending for more than 60 days in the judiciary committee.
Even if the bill is finally approved by the plenary session, however, President Yoon Suk Yeol is likely to exercise his veto power. The National Assembly has to then win more than two-thirds of attending lawmakers' approval to pass the bill.
PPP floor leader Joo Ho-young said the party will actively suggest Yoon to exercise his veto power, claiming the bill goes against the Constitution.
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