As the first-ever Korean law firm to issue specialized legislative journals, D&A LLC has been publishing the monthly Policy & Business (P&B) Report since August 2019. The P&B Report provides analyses of plenary sessions of the National Assembly, as well as standing committee and subcommittee meetings. In addition, the firm has been co-hosting the Future Leaders Forum with the Herald Business, inviting chairpersons of standing committees to discuss relevant legislative issues and tasks.
 
As an extension of this service, D&A has also been issuing the Weekly Legislative Report, which covers various legal issues at the center of public debate along with editorials and columns on the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (“SAPA”) from major daily news outlets. The report will be released with an update on newly proposed or pending bills. Enclosed is this week’s legislative report, and please refer to the P&B Report for further details.
 
If you wish to subscribe to the P&B Report or have any other queries, please contact us at lc@draju.com.
 
 
1. Proposed Bill(s)
 
① Partial Amendment to the Labor Standards Act
 
This Amendment permits an exception to the 52-hour workweek limit for researchers in high-tech sectors, while mandating the implementation of a 4.5-day workweek to ensure compliance with working hour standards.
 
② Class Action Act

This Bill allows one or more individuals to serve as representatives of victims and file a class action against a corporation seeking damages for an accident affecting 50 or more people.

2. Pending Bill(s)
 
③ Partial Amendment to the Distribution Industry Development Act

This Amendment allows superstores and quasi-superstores to provide online delivery services regardless of the existing mandatory closure and operating-hour restrictions.
 
3. Promulgated Bill(s)
 
④ Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act
 
This Bill allows subcontracted workers to request collective bargaining from a prime contractor that has a substantial influence over their working conditions. It also limits excessive claims for damages filed by companies in connection with industrial actions such as strikes.

4. Bill(s) Undergoing Pre-Announcement of Legislation/Administration

⑤ Partial Amendment to the Public Notice of Detailed Guidelines for Imposition of Penalty Surcharges

This Amendment raises the lower limits of the penalty surcharge rate for collusion from 0.5% to 10% of the relevant sales. For severe collusion, the surcharge rate is increased fivefold from 3% to 15% of the relevant sales, while for extremely severe collusion, the rate is raised from 10.5% to 18%.

5. Serious Accidents Punishment Act ("SAPA") Related Editorials and Columns from Major Dailies

[Segye Ilbo] Forced Investigations Under SAPA Triple After ‘War on Industrial Accidents’ Declaration
[The Korea Economic Daily] Construction Safety Bill Adds to SAPA and OSHA, Putting Industry on Alert

*For more details, please download the PDF file attached.