ID :
97761
Sat, 01/02/2010 - 02:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/97761
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Parliament okays labor union bill despite opposition
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Jan. 1 (Yonhap) -- Parliament approved Friday a set of bills calling for
drastic changes to the current labor union law, despite opposition from labor and
business groups here.
The bills permit more than one labor union at a single company and prevent firms
from paying wages to full-time union officials, starting from as early as July
this year.
The final parliamentary vote was attended only by legislators from the ruling
Grand National Party and a right-leaning minority party that is generally
favorable toward government-led plans. The bills passed the plenary session early
Friday by 173 votes to two with one abstention.
"We had to pass the bills to prevent further confusion in the industrial
environment," Lee Doo-ah, a ruling party member said.
The main opposition Democratic Party, which claims the bills neglect needs of
labor unions, called the vote invalid.
"The ruling party used its majority in the parliament to railroad unacceptable
bills that so clearly ignore the crucial needs of labor unions," said opposition
party legislator Kim Sang-hee.
The conservative ruling party controls a majority of 169 seats in the 298-member
unicameral house.
Due to fierce opposition from both labor and business groups, which claim the new
laws will burden both sides and strain their relations, the government has on
three occasions delayed implementing the bills, originally legislated back in
1997.
Setting an ultimatum for Jan. 1 this year, the government has held a series of
meetings over the past months with representatives from labor and management but
failed to narrow differences.
Under the revised laws, firms will be banned from paying full-time union
officials from July this year and multiple unions will be allowed starting July
2011.
Also, all unions will have to express their views via one coordinated union
during labor-management negotiations. If they fail to reach an agreement a first
time, the union with the most members will have the right to bargain on behalf of
the other unions.
If labor unions demand collective negotiations without forming a single channel,
employers can reject the bargaining proposal and would not be punished for unfair
labor practices.
Employees working full-time for a labor union can be paid only when their union
activities are considered "related to the improvement of labor-management
relationship."
Labor and business groups asked for a further delay of the plans, warning of
confusion at individual workplaces.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the more militant of the South Korea's
two umbrella labor groups, announced that some 800,000 of its members will stage
a walkout in protest of the new provisions.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Jan. 1 (Yonhap) -- Parliament approved Friday a set of bills calling for
drastic changes to the current labor union law, despite opposition from labor and
business groups here.
The bills permit more than one labor union at a single company and prevent firms
from paying wages to full-time union officials, starting from as early as July
this year.
The final parliamentary vote was attended only by legislators from the ruling
Grand National Party and a right-leaning minority party that is generally
favorable toward government-led plans. The bills passed the plenary session early
Friday by 173 votes to two with one abstention.
"We had to pass the bills to prevent further confusion in the industrial
environment," Lee Doo-ah, a ruling party member said.
The main opposition Democratic Party, which claims the bills neglect needs of
labor unions, called the vote invalid.
"The ruling party used its majority in the parliament to railroad unacceptable
bills that so clearly ignore the crucial needs of labor unions," said opposition
party legislator Kim Sang-hee.
The conservative ruling party controls a majority of 169 seats in the 298-member
unicameral house.
Due to fierce opposition from both labor and business groups, which claim the new
laws will burden both sides and strain their relations, the government has on
three occasions delayed implementing the bills, originally legislated back in
1997.
Setting an ultimatum for Jan. 1 this year, the government has held a series of
meetings over the past months with representatives from labor and management but
failed to narrow differences.
Under the revised laws, firms will be banned from paying full-time union
officials from July this year and multiple unions will be allowed starting July
2011.
Also, all unions will have to express their views via one coordinated union
during labor-management negotiations. If they fail to reach an agreement a first
time, the union with the most members will have the right to bargain on behalf of
the other unions.
If labor unions demand collective negotiations without forming a single channel,
employers can reject the bargaining proposal and would not be punished for unfair
labor practices.
Employees working full-time for a labor union can be paid only when their union
activities are considered "related to the improvement of labor-management
relationship."
Labor and business groups asked for a further delay of the plans, warning of
confusion at individual workplaces.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the more militant of the South Korea's
two umbrella labor groups, announced that some 800,000 of its members will stage
a walkout in protest of the new provisions.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
