Presidential Office on Veto Power over Yellow Envelope Act: "We Have Principles... Listening to Opinions and Will Judge Carefully"

Concerns Over Bills Without Bipartisan Agreement in the National Assembly
Considering the Veto Situation... Business Community Criticizes as "Unprecedented Law"

The Presidential Office has expressed its position on the so-called 'Yellow Envelope Act (Amendments to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act),' which was forcibly passed solely by the opposition party, stating that "there are basic principles" and that it will "carefully consider the opinions of the relevant ministries and related organizations." While this indicates an intention to gather opinions for now, it is read as implying that the exercise of the president's veto power is inevitable, based on these 'principles.'

A Presidential Office official said on the afternoon of the same day at the Yongsan Presidential Office in a meeting with reporters that regarding the possibility of the president exercising veto power on the Yellow Envelope Act, "The bill has not yet been submitted to the government," and made the above remarks.

Earlier, on the 9th, the Democratic Party of Korea, leveraging its majority seats in the National Assembly, passed both the Yellow Envelope Act and the three broadcasting laws (amendments to the Broadcasting Act, the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act, and the Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act). The core of the Yellow Envelope Act amendment is to expand the scope of employers subject to union negotiations. Until now, negotiations could only be held with parties directly involved in the employment contract, but the amended law broadens the concept of employer to "those who exercise substantial control or influence over working conditions." It also includes provisions that even if the court recognizes the union's liability for damages due to strikes, the scope of individual responsibility should be determined based on fault and contribution.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The principle announced by the Presidential Office on this day applies to bills that have not undergone bipartisan agreement in the National Assembly, similar to the previously vetoed amendments to the Grain Management Act and the enactment of the Nursing Act. Moreover, the Presidential Office has consistently shown discomfort since the National Assembly's forcible passage. It repeatedly stated that it would "listen to the opinions of related organizations and make a judgment," but evaluated these matters as likely to cause public confusion amid economic difficulties. The Presidential Office views the Yellow Envelope Act as potentially encouraging strikes and causing disruption in industrial sites during tough economic times. It argues that if all subcontractors enter into negotiations individually with the primary contractors, normal business operations will not be possible.

However, it appears that the Presidential Office will not initiate a 'veto standoff' first. Since the Democratic Party clearly intends to focus on the "president's continuous exercise of veto power," there is no need to hastily clarify its position.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions held a press conference in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, stating, "While the bill's discussion in the National Assembly has stalled, too many workers have died or had to engage in extreme struggles," and requested, "President Yoon should promulgate the amended Labor Union Act as soon as possible." The Korea Employers Federation, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Korea International Trade Association, the Korea Economic Association, the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, and the Korea Federation of Medium-sized Enterprises also issued a joint statement titled 'Condemnation of the Deterioration of the Labor Union Act and Recommendation for Veto Exercise' at the Korea Press Center that morning. Son Kyung-sik, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation representing the six economic organizations, criticized, "The amendment to the Labor Union Act is an unprecedented law worldwide that drags primary contractors into subcontractor labor-management relations and even restricts the right to claim damages for illegal strikes."

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