[사설] 노란봉투법 쟁의대상 시행령으로 좁혀서는 안돼

President Yoon Jae-myung repeatedly instructed that the scope of controversy for the yellow packet law (amended labor union law, Article 2 and 3) be defined in a regulation. The yellow packet law expands the controversy scope beyond "labor conditions of decision" to include "business management decisions that affect labor conditions."

The government's plan to narrow the targeted scope via a regulation contradicts the purpose of the legislation and could lead to increased confusion on the ground. The president stated on November 11th during a National Security Council meeting that the president wants the Ministry of Employment and Labor to clearly define what is and isn't a controversy subject under the yellow packet law.

On December 21st, the president ordered the Ministry of Employment and Labor to compile a list of guidelines and executive orders before legal means are pursued. The Ministry of Employment and Labor stated on December 13th that they are reviewing regulations and guidelines from multiple perspectives, but shifted its position after the president pressured further.

The yellow packet law aims to expand the controversy scope beyond just labor conditions to include business management decisions that impact labor conditions. The government has been reviewing ways to create a regulation or administrative order to implement the law, but these methods may infringe on civil rights and result in conflicting interests between labor and management.

Allowing the labor and business sectors to negotiate freely and build up a history of negotiations and precedents from labor unions and courts is essential for the yellow packet law to take root. The government's role should be to minimize confusion on the ground through careful administrative guidance and direction until the new rules take effect.