"60 Days Passed Since Legislation Committee"…Opposition Starts Push to Send Yellow Envelope Act Directly to Plenary Session

Bae Jin-gyo, Floor Leader, to Submit Direct Referral Proposal for Yellow Envelope Act on 24th
"No More Expectations from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee... Requesting Cooperation from the Democratic Party"
Likely to Counter with Jurisdictional Dispute Like the People Power Party's Broadcasting Act Case

The Yellow Envelope Act (Labor Union Relations Act) is set to proceed to direct referral to the plenary session. On the 24th, the Justice Party publicly declared at the Environment and Labor Committee that it would take steps for the direct referral of the Yellow Envelope Act.

On the 23rd, Bae Jin-kyo, the floor leader of the Justice Party, stated at a party members' meeting held at the National Assembly, "We will no longer delay," adding, "We will submit the request for direct referral to the plenary session at the Environment and Labor Committee meeting tomorrow and handle it in the June extraordinary session according to Article 86 of the National Assembly Act."

Floor leader Bae mentioned that 90 days have passed since the Yellow Envelope Act was referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and no further discussions have taken place since the full committee meeting on the 26th of last month. He said, "The past 90 days in the 'People Power Party's Legislation and Judiciary Committee' have been nothing but an 'unjustified boycott' feast," declaring, "There is nothing more to expect from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He said, "I request Park Kwang-on, the floor leader of the Democratic Party," adding, "When I visited former Justice Party floor leader Lee Eun-ju on the 2nd, she expressed her position to work together on the Yellow Envelope Act. I ask for your support so that the Yellow Envelope Act, which has reached the National Assembly threshold for the first time in 14 years since the tragic incident involving Ssangyong Motor workers, will not be frustrated by the government's and ruling party's veto rule and boycott rampage." This is a call for the Democratic Party to also participate in the direct referral process of the Yellow Envelope Act.

Previously, the Yellow Envelope Act was passed through the Environment and Labor Committee's full meeting on February 17th with the Democratic Party and Justice Party alone, after the People Power Party walked out, and was referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

Lee Eun-ju, who directly proposed the Yellow Envelope Act and led the legislation, will hold a press conference related to the trial of the subcontractor union strike at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, which was the trigger for the bill's proposal. Lee explained, "After last year's subcontractor union strike at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, a claim for 47 billion won in damages was filed against five union executives. Although the principal company changed to Hanwha Ocean, there has been no intention to withdraw the damages claim. I am holding this press conference to urge the withdrawal of the damages lawsuit and negotiations with the principal company." It is expected that she will emphasize the necessity of passing the Yellow Envelope Act as the procedures for withdrawal have become difficult.

Since 60 days have passed since the Yellow Envelope Act was referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it is now possible to directly refer it to the plenary session through a resolution of the Environment and Labor Committee. Regarding this, Jeon Hae-cheol, chairman of the Environment and Labor Committee (affiliated with the Democratic Party), stated at the full committee meeting on the 25th of last month, "If the Legislation and Judiciary Committee does not proceed with the review, the Environment and Labor Committee will take necessary measures according to the National Assembly Act at the next meeting." Therefore, the decision on whether to directly refer the Yellow Envelope Act rests solely with Chairman Jeon.

The People Power Party plans to file a constitutional review petition if the opposition proceeds with the direct referral procedure for the Yellow Envelope Act, similar to the case with the Broadcasting Act. They argue that since the Yellow Envelope Act is substantively under review in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, it is unjustified to not complete the review.

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