Latest news with #TradeUnionandLaborRelationsAdjustmentAct
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
AmCham, Labor Ministry to form joint task force for industry consultation
Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon pledged to set up a joint task force with the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea to maintain dialogue and reflect industry views in policymaking, during a closed-door roundtable Thursday. Held at AmCham's Seoul office, the meeting gathered senior executives from major US and global companies to discuss labor policy priorities and concerns over legislation that could tighten corporate liabilities in labor disputes. Talks centered on aligning Korea's labor rules with global standards by boosting market flexibility, reducing regulatory uncertainty, strengthening workplace safety and ensuring predictable enforcement, according to the US business group. One of topic dealt in the event was the 'Yellow Envelope' bill — an amendment to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act that would expand protections to all employment types and curb companies' ability to claim damages from unions over strike-related losses. The ruling party plans to put the bill to a plenary vote on Aug. 21, despite strong opposition from business groups. AmCham Chair and CEO James Kim warned the measure could erode flexibility, noting Korea hosts fewer than 100 regional headquarters, compared with Singapore's 5,000. 'Two key reforms, labor flexibility and CEO risk, are essential to improving competitiveness,' he said, urging lawmakers to 'take sufficient time to reflect industry input' ahead of Korea hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in the fall. The labor minister said he understood corporate concerns over the planned changes to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act and vowed continued engagement before the law takes effect. "To help address these concerns and prevent misunderstandings, we will establish a dedicated task force with AmCham and other industry representatives to ensure continuous dialogue and incorporate industry input into policy discussions," he said. Over the next six months, the government will work with labor and management to reduce uncertainties, the minister said, adding it will issue detailed guidelines to help contractors and subcontractors strengthen partnerships, settle disputes and achieve 'sustainable growth through cooperation and mutual benefit.'
AFP
05-08-2025
- Business
- AFP
AI image misrepresented as rally outside South Korean tech giant Samsung's headquarters
The image appearing to show scores of striking workers holding up placards demanding Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong "join collective bargaining" was shared on Facebook on August 3, 2025. "Situation in front of Samsung HQ due to the yellow envelope bill," reads the image's Korean-language caption, referring to proposed amendments to South Korea's Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act that the ruling Democratic Party has . According to The Korea Times, the bill would broaden protections for workers and strengthen their right to take collective action, including an expanded definition of legitimate labour disputes (archived link). Business groups have criticised the bill, with a report in The Chosun Daily saying industry leaders had warned the proposed changes could escalate strikes, delay production, and force shutdowns (archived link). Image Screenshot of the false Facebook post captured on August 4, 2025, with a red X added by AFP The same image was also shared in similar posts in Facebook groups frequented by conservative users, as well as on the South Korean forum Ilbe. "The law hasn't even passed yet and these commies are already striking," read a comment on one of the posts. Another said: "They're taking part in Lee Jae Myung's plan to nationalise all businesses." But as of August 5, there have been no official reports of such a protest outside the . Hypothetical scenario A keyword search found the falsely shared image first appeared in a July 2025 report by South Korean outlet Edaily, which speculated on possible labour unrest if the yellow envelope bill were to become law (archived link). The image's caption says it was generated using ChatGPT. Image Screenshot of the AI image as it appears in the Edaily report A visual analysis of the image reveals inconsistencies indicating it was made with AI, such as distorted lettering on protest placards, misshapen or fused limbs on protesters, and an unnatural crowd arrangement. Although generative AI technology is improving rapidly, identifying visual inconsistencies remains the best way to distinguish fabricated content from genuine material. Image Screenshot of the falsely shared image, with visual inconsistencies highlighted by AFP Moreover, the buildings and environment in the falsely shared image do not match Google Street View imagery of the area outside Samsung's headquarters in Seoul (archived link). Image Screenshot comparison of the AI image (left) and Google Street View imagery of Samsung headquarters in Seoul (right) AFP has misrepresenting AI-generated images and videos as real-life events.
Korea Herald
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
PPP launches filibuster to delay DP-led legislation
Parliamentary vote for 'Yellow Envelope' bill likely to be delayed to mid-August The main opposition People Power Party launched a filibuster Monday to delay the vote on a contentious bill proposed by the Democratic Party of Korea, denouncing what it called a "unilateral" legislative push by the ruling liberal bloc. The filibuster is the first by the conservative party in over a year. It targeted a revision of the Broadcasting Act, concerning the governance structure of public broadcaster KBS. Dozens of Democratic Party lawmakers walked out of the session as Rep. Shin Dong-uk, a first-term lawmaker of the People Power Party, kicked off the debate just after 4 p.m. Similar revisions of the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act were also due to be voted on at Monday's plenary session for the National Assembly. The three revision bills are designed to limit the government and politicians' power to name directors to the boards of KBS, MBC and EBS TV. When a filibuster is initiated, a continuous debate session begins that cannot be halted by a vote until 24 hours have passed. After that, it can be broken with the support of three-fifths of all 298 lawmakers of the National Assembly — or 179 votes. Five left-leaning parties in South Korea, including the Democratic Party, hold a combined 185 seats at the National Assembly. This means the parties have enough power to not only pass legislation with a majority of seats, but also end the filibuster after 24 hours have passed. But a 24-hour delay would push the legislation beyond the end of the current session effectively delaying it for several weeks. Another contentious bill tabled at Monday's plenary session was the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, aimed at broadening the scope of an "employer" when it comes to dealing with labor unions. It seeks to ban companies from claiming damages against labor unions, even if their strikes incurred damages for the company. All four bills were previously vetoed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who worked with the National Assembly dominated by the Democratic Party throughout his short-lived term. He was removed from office in April after a failed martial law attempt in December. The People Power Party was also poised for a filibuster against a revision of the Commercial Act aimed at banning listed companies with over 2 trillion won ($1.44 billion) in assets from rejecting the cumulative voting system, which would boost minority shareholders' rights to elect a corporate boardroom director. The bill, also led by the Democratic Party, was vetoed by ex-acting President Han Duck-soo while Yoon was impeached. Before Monday's filibuster, the order of which bill would be brought to the parliamentary vote was the focal point. The filibuster is to last until Tuesday afternoon, although the monthlong 427th session of the National Assembly was to end Monday night. With the following 428th session of the Assembly kicking off on Wednesday, votes for the remaining contentious bills, including the Trade Union Act revision — also known as the "Yellow Envelope" bill — are likely to start in its earliest plenary session, which is currently scheduled on Aug. 21. Regarding the sequence of the bills to be voted, Rep. Jung Chung-rae, chair of the Democratic Party, said just before the plenary session on Monday that his party chose a bill over broadcast governance "after some twists and turns," given the gravity of the problem in the current media governance structure that was prone to political influence.
Korea Herald
01-08-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Pro-labor, broadcast reform bills to be put to vote next week
Several contentious bills, including one pro-labor bill and three aimed at reducing government influence over public broadcasters, will be put to a vote at the National Assembly next week after a parliamentary standing committee approved them on Friday. The Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, voted in favor of passing the three broadcasting bills and the pro-labor bill dubbed the 'Yellow Envelope Law' during a meeting. All four bills are sponsored by the ruling party and the liberal Lee Jae Myung administration. With 16 of the 18 committee members in attendance, all bills passed after 10 voted in favor, with six abstentions. Of the total 18 members, 10 are lawmakers of the ruling party, including the committee's chair, Rep. Lee Choon-suak of the Democratic Party. Seven are main opposition People Power Party lawmakers, while one is a member of the minor progressive Rebuilding Korea Party. Committee members belonging to the People Power Party vocally protested during Friday's vote. Democratic Party members, however, refused to hold a debate over the bills despite the main opposition's request. The bills will be put to a vote during a parliamentary plenary session scheduled for Monday. The People Power Party announced plans to launch a filibuster to delay the passage of the legislation. The 'Yellow Envelope Law' is a revision to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act that focuses on restricting companies from claiming damages against legitimate disputes involving labor unions. The nickname stems from the donations that the public sent to support SsangYong Motor workers in 2014, after they were laid off and faced court orders to compensate their employer for the damages made to company properties during a strike. South Korean business lobby groups, the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea and the European Chamber of Commerce have all voiced concerns that the passage of the bill could prompt foreign companies to withdraw from the Korean market. Meanwhile, the amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Foundation for Broadcast Culture Act and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act aim to increase the number of board directors at public broadcasters KBS, MBC and EBS, respectively. The set of bills quintessentially seeks to reform the governance structure of the public broadcasters by reducing the government and the National Assembly's power to name the board directors. The opposition claims the restructuring aims to reinforce the influence of labor unions. All four bills were previously vetoed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol when he was in office, after the Assembly at the time, led by then-main opposition Democratic Party, passed them.
Korea Herald
30-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
'Yellow Envelope Law' will repel investment, foreign biz groups warn
US chamber raises 'deep concern,' says legislation may deter future American investment A controversial pro-labor union bill advancing through Korea's National Assembly is drawing a rare, unified backlash from both foreign business chambers and local industry groups, who warn it could erode legal predictability and diminish the country's investment competitiveness. The proposed legislation, commonly referred to as the 'Yellow Envelope Law,' would amend the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act. If passed, the bill would expand the definition of 'employer' to include main contractors in subcontracting chains, giving bargaining power to workers in indirect or outsourced jobs. It would also limit companies from demanding compensation from unions for strike-related losses and hold executives liable if they refuse to negotiate with unions. The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea, the country's largest foreign business chamber with over 800 member companies, on Wednesday expressed 'deep concern' after the bill passed the parliamentary Environment and Labor Committee last week. 'If enacted in its current form, this legislation could influence future investment decisions by American companies considering Korea,' said AmCham Chairman and CEO James Kim in a statement. 'A flexible labor environment is essential to strengthening Korea's competitiveness as a business hub in the Asia-Pacific region,' he said, adding that the bill had progressed 'without sufficient input from industrial stakeholders.' Backed by President Lee Jae Myung's resolve to protect vulnerable workers, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea has been pushing to pass the bill in a move that conservative People Power Party lawmakers have denounced as 'anti-business." The European Chamber of Commerce in Korea echoed those concerns a day earlier, warning that vague and expanded liability could expose companies to unclear criminal risk. 'If a company faces legal exposure simply for failing to respond to unclear bargaining requests, it could result in withdrawal from the Korean market,' the chamber said in a statement. Pushing back against the criticism from the ECCK, Korea's Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon argued on Tuesday that the bill aims to align Korean labor regulations with global standards. Speaking at a government briefing, Kim cited Europe's supply chain due diligence laws as an example of international norms demanding 'responsible corporate behavior' and shared liability between parent and subcontractor firms. 'Meeting international standards is increasingly essential not just for labor rights, but also for global trade and competitiveness,' Kim said. He added that the OECD has repeatedly pointed to Korea's dual labor market structure, marked by a stark divide between large corporations and small- and medium-sized enterprises, as a key factor limiting long-term growth, calling the bill a necessary step for sustainable development. First proposed in 2015, the bill has long faced resistance from conservative parties and business lobbies. Now one of Korea's most polarizing bills, its fate could reshape labor governance and signal how the country balances worker rights with business interests. A renewed political showdown appears imminent as the revised bill is scheduled for a potential floor vote on Aug. 4. Korean industry groups are alarmed by the bill's potential fallout for subcontracting-heavy sectors such as automotive, shipbuilding and construction. On Wednesday, major Korean business associations, including the Korea Enterprises Federation, Korea Automobile & Mobility Association, Korea Offshore & Shipbuilding Association, and Construction Association of Korea, issued a joint statement urging lawmakers to halt the legislation. KEF Vice Chairman Lee Dong-geun warned that the amendment would destabilize Korea's complex, multi-tiered subcontracting system, which is foundational to its manufacturing and industrial competitiveness. 'It will inevitably trigger disputes targeting prime contractors, fracturing supply chains and damaging Korea's global competitiveness,' he said. Lee added that the proposed legislation could paralyze executive decision-making by exposing business leaders to 'indiscriminate criminal liability.' He also cautioned that limiting damage claims against unions could lead to a 'culture of strike absolutism,' normalize illegal workplace disruptions and weaken productivity across sectors. 'These sectors are already under pressure from global market shifts and sensitive trade negotiations. This bill could tip them into deeper instability,' he said.
