Korea's biz lobby groups express regret over passage of pro-labor bill

Korea's business lobby groups on Monday expressed regret over the passage of a labor bill broadening workers' rights over the weekend, calling for government efforts to protect and ensure the smooth operation of businesses. On Sunday, the National Assembly passed the so-called "yellow envelope bill" in a vote led by the ruling Democratic Party. "As the revisions can potentially lead to management disputes and lawsuit risks, we ask the parliament to seek balanced legislative efforts to minimize the side effects," the country's eight major business lobby groups said in a joint statement. "In order to guarantee a business environment free from speculative capital threats, we need to promptly establish protective measures that meet global standards," they added. The revisions to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act guarantee the bargaining rights of indirectly employed subcontracted workers. The bill also prohibits companies from filing lawsuits for damages or provisional seizures against unionized workers, which labor unions argue businesses have used to suppress strikes. The groups also cWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times