“Real Bosses, Come to the Table” — KCTU Declares All-Out Struggle as Amended Law Takes Effect

On the first day of the enforcement of the "Yellow Envelope Act" (Amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act) on March 10, 2026, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions were shouting slogans at the protest rally held in Sejong-ro, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Coinciding with the enforcement of the amended Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, commonly referred to as the "Yellow Envelope Act," the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has declared a struggle to secure direct negotiations with principal employers, demanding that “the real bosses come to the bargaining table.”

At the rally declaring the start of this struggle, hosted by the KCTU at the Sejong-daero intersection in Seoul on March 10, more than 5,000 union members participated, urging principal employers to take responsibility for bargaining. Yang Kyungsoo, President of the KCTU, stated, “It is because non-regular and indirectly employed workers have fought for over 20 years, demanding that ‘the real bosses come to the table,’ that we are able to stand here today.” He added, “We have called for amendments to the labor union law to end the reality in which even changing a factory power outlet was blocked by subcontractor bosses who claim they ‘lack authority.’” He emphasized, “Although the law has changed, not a single principal employer has agreed to participate in bargaining. If principal employers continue to refuse, workers will unite even more strongly and respond through struggle.” He further stressed, “Through direct negotiations with principal employers, we will achieve employment stability and improved working conditions, and create a society where workers are respected.”

On the first day of the enforcement of the "Yellow Envelope Act" (Amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act) on March 10, 2026, at Sejong-ro, Seoul, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) who held the rally are marching. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Park Sangman, President of the Metal Workers’ Union, said, “We requested negotiations from 14 principal companies, but only two responded—and both replied that bargaining was not possible.” He continued, “The government’s manual effectively gives principal employers a free pass to refuse negotiations.” Kim Kwangchang, President of the Service Workers’ Federation, addressed the realities faced by platform and service workers, saying, “It is the principal company that sets delivery volumes and fees, but they hide behind agencies when it comes to responsibility. If they refuse to negotiate, workers will halt operations to show who the real owners are.”

Starting with this rally, the KCTU will launch a nationwide campaign to realize direct negotiations with principal employers. From March 11 to March 20, a series of relay press conferences will be held by industrial and sectoral unions to demand negotiations with principal employers. On March 21, a KCTU care workers’ rally will be held in front of the presidential office, condemning integrated care without labor and demanding direct negotiations with principal employers and wage increases. In April, the KCTU plans to stage actions targeting the Central and Regional Labor Relations Commissions to push for the separation of bargaining units and the recognition of principal employer status. In April, there will also be a campaign urging public-sector labor-government negotiations. On May 1, Labor Day, the KCTU will hold a large-scale rally, and from May 11 to May 15, it plans to target worksites where principal employers refuse to negotiate. On July 15, a general strike is scheduled to demand the attainment of direct negotiations with principal employers.

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