Labor Groups Call for Immediate Revision of 'Yellow Envelope Law,' Citing Only 10 Main Negotiations

Labor groups are calling for an immediate revision of the "Yellow Envelope Law," arguing that 100 days after its implementation, only 10 prime contractor workplaces have entered into main negotiations, and that "enforcement decrees and administrative guidelines are stifling the law."

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) stated in a statement today (June 22) that "the fact that only 10 out of 1,161 subcontracting unions that requested negotiations have entered into main negotiations is proof that the revised Trade Union Act is not functioning properly in the field."

According to an analysis of negotiation requests released by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 1,161 subcontracting unions had requested negotiations with 439 prime contractor workplaces as of the 19th.

However, due to phased procedural requirements, only 10 prime contractor workplaces have actually begun negotiations.

In response, the KCTU criticized the situation, stating, "This is the result of the Ministry of Employment and Labor failing to properly reflect the opinions of field workers while creating enforcement decrees, interpretation guidelines, and manuals."

The union further pointed out, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor claimed that using the bargaining unit separation system could resolve conflicts between unions, but the result is that the Labor Relations Commission is making conservative judgments on bargaining unit separation, which is actually intensifying conflicts between labor groups."

The KCTU continued, "The problem with the interpretation guidelines is even more serious," emphasizing that "the government is arbitrarily creating criteria for employer status in the public sector, effectively depriving subcontracted public sector workers of their right to negotiate with prime contractors."

The KCTU also used a metaphor, stating, "Local governments and the central government, which should be model employers, are denying their status as employers and refusing to engage in negotiations," adding that "it is a situation where the tail is wagging the dog, with enforcement decrees and other administrative guidelines acting as obstacles to the operation of the Trade Union Act."

The KCTU urged, "The government must first fulfill its role as a model employer and prepare special measures so that the public sector can immediately respond to negotiations with subcontracted workers."

Furthermore, the KCTU demanded, "The government's restriction of the revised Trade Union Act by creating a procedure for unifying bargaining channels for supra-enterprise negotiations—which was not delegated by law—and applying a double standard that denies employer status in the public sector is a clear abuse of power," adding, "They must fully re-examine and immediately revise the enforcement decrees and interpretation guidelines."

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) also issued a commentary today, stating, "The reality that only 10 places have entered into main negotiations is still insufficient to evaluate that the bargaining rights of workers are being substantially guaranteed in the field."

They added, "Instead of emphasizing that procedures are proceeding normally, the government should examine why substantial negotiations are not being activated in the field," and urged, "They must immediately begin discussions on abolishing the bargaining channel unification system and establishing a new negotiation framework."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.