Three 'ILO Ratification Agreements' Finally Passed the National Assembly Threshold

Prohibition of Forced Labor and Guarantee of Workers' Rights to Establish and Join Organizations

National Assembly Main Chamber
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Three ratification bills of the International Labour Organization (ILO) core conventions, which prohibit forced labor of workers and guarantee freedom of association, passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 26th.

On the same day, the National Assembly held a plenary session and approved three bills as originally proposed: ▲Ratification bill of the Forced or Compulsory Labour Convention (No. 29) ▲Ratification bill of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (No. 87) ▲Ratification bill of the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98).

The ratification bill of the Forced or Compulsory Labour Convention stipulates that member countries must prohibit all forms of forced labor that are not voluntarily provided under the threat of punishment. The National Assembly passed the bill with 242 votes in favor and 6 abstentions out of 248 members present.

The ratification bill of the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention is a bill that regulates the rights of workers and employers to voluntarily establish and join organizations. In the plenary session, it was passed with 201 votes in favor, 16 against, and 31 abstentions out of 248 members present.

Lastly, the ratification bill of the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention requires member countries to create an environment for voluntary negotiations between employers and workers' organizations. It was passed with 201 votes in favor, 16 against, and 31 abstentions out of 248 members present.

With the approval of these ILO ratification bills, a long-standing wish of the labor sector has been fulfilled.

Meanwhile, the business community has expressed concerns regarding the handling of the ILO ratification bills.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.