New labor bills get drafted
Published: 07 Dec. 2009, 02:44
Following a new agreement among the government, business and labor communities to delay scheduled changes in the labor law, ruling and opposition parties began work yesterday to draft necessary bills.
The Labor Ministry originally intended to introduce multiple unions in single workplaces while prohibiting companies from paying wages to full-time union representatives starting Jan. 1, but the Korea Employers Federation, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Ministry of Labor agreed on Friday to postpone the changes.
Under the agreement, the multiple union system will be delayed for two and a half years and the wage ban will be enforced starting next July.
While the Grand National Party hailed the compromise achieved by the three sides, the Democratic Party opposed it. DP officials argued the three sides left out the participation of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, but the majority of DP insiders suggest they have no other option but to discuss implementing changes with GNP lawmakers. If the ruling and opposition parties fail to come up with a revision bill to reflect the delays, the government’s original plan would go into effect on Jan. 1.
“The KCTU and four opposition parties were left out of recent labor negotiations among labor, management and politicians and there should be an organization under the National Assembly where the opposition parties and the KCTU can exchange their views on the issue [with GNP lawmakers],” DP Representative Kim Jae-yun said. “The DP is not considering opposing a bill to change the government’ new labor policy. The DP plans to submit a separate bill to allow multiple labor unions in a single company and grant autonomy to labor-management to decide whether to pay salaries to full-time labor unionists or not.”
Choo Mi-ae, a Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee, said once the GNP unveils its plan for the revision bill, the four opposition parties and the KCTU will express their positions.
Meanwhile, GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo said the party will finalize a first draft of the revision bill submitted by the GNP task force team at today’s general meeting of lawmakers. “Labor, business and politicians worked hard to craft the best revision bill and we plan to submit a finalized version early this week so that we can complete passage by the end of the year.”
In the bill, the GNP plans to mandate labor and management to have only a single discussion channel in efforts to prevent possible confusion.
By Jung Hyo-sik, Kim Mi-ju [[email protected]]
The Labor Ministry originally intended to introduce multiple unions in single workplaces while prohibiting companies from paying wages to full-time union representatives starting Jan. 1, but the Korea Employers Federation, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Ministry of Labor agreed on Friday to postpone the changes.
Under the agreement, the multiple union system will be delayed for two and a half years and the wage ban will be enforced starting next July.
While the Grand National Party hailed the compromise achieved by the three sides, the Democratic Party opposed it. DP officials argued the three sides left out the participation of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, but the majority of DP insiders suggest they have no other option but to discuss implementing changes with GNP lawmakers. If the ruling and opposition parties fail to come up with a revision bill to reflect the delays, the government’s original plan would go into effect on Jan. 1.
“The KCTU and four opposition parties were left out of recent labor negotiations among labor, management and politicians and there should be an organization under the National Assembly where the opposition parties and the KCTU can exchange their views on the issue [with GNP lawmakers],” DP Representative Kim Jae-yun said. “The DP is not considering opposing a bill to change the government’ new labor policy. The DP plans to submit a separate bill to allow multiple labor unions in a single company and grant autonomy to labor-management to decide whether to pay salaries to full-time labor unionists or not.”
Choo Mi-ae, a Democratic Party lawmaker who chairs the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee, said once the GNP unveils its plan for the revision bill, the four opposition parties and the KCTU will express their positions.
Meanwhile, GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo said the party will finalize a first draft of the revision bill submitted by the GNP task force team at today’s general meeting of lawmakers. “Labor, business and politicians worked hard to craft the best revision bill and we plan to submit a finalized version early this week so that we can complete passage by the end of the year.”
In the bill, the GNP plans to mandate labor and management to have only a single discussion channel in efforts to prevent possible confusion.
By Jung Hyo-sik, Kim Mi-ju [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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