South Korean labor disputes and bargaining rights

Labor disputes in South Korea are intensifying following the implementation of the amended Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, often referred to as the ‘Yellow Envelope Law’. This legislation has led to legal and industrial conflicts regarding the bargaining rights of subcontractors and primary contractors.

In Incheon, Bupyeong-gu has filed an administrative lawsuit against the National Labor Relations Commission to contest a ruling that identifies the district as a primary employer for waste collection and transportation workers. Meanwhile, workers at subsidiaries of the Incheon International Airport Corporation have sought mediation after negotiations failed, leading to a scheduled warning strike.

In the Gyeonggi region, the Gyeonggi Regional Automobile Workers' Union is conducting a strike vote involving over 9,000 members over demands for higher wages and improved welfare. Additionally, the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service (COMWEL) union has announced a strike vote for late October following a breakdown in wage negotiations, marking their first such action in a decade.