YONHAP NEWS

Political parties continue to clash over irregular workers bill

SEOUL, June 30 (Yonhap) -- The ruling and opposition parties remained at loggerheads Tuesday, possibly heading for a physical clash over a government-backed revision of the law on non-regular workers.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) blocked the entrance to the main hall of the National Assembly, fearing the governing party may try to legislate the bill unilaterally, a move that has led to two physical clashes between the rival parties since late last year.

"There is a rumor that the GNP will try to enter the main hall before midnight. We must have all of your support here today," DP's vice floor leader Woo Yoon-keun told party lawmakers at the Assembly hall.

Under the current law, enacted at the beginning of July 2007, companies can employ workers on a non-regular basis for up to a maximum of two years. After the two years, they either have to lay off the non-regular workers or promote their status to official employees, which could significantly increase their labor costs.

   The proposed revision by the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) seeks to extend the time limit to four years. Some 5.5 million workers are currently employed on a non-regular basis here.

   "There are numerous people who wish to work even on a non-regular basis and many businesses that wish to hire them. We will be faced with a very sad situation starting tomorrow where people will be fired unless the revision is passed," GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo said.

   The DP says it will only agree to a six-month deferment, during which the sides must work out a solution for the non-regular workers, who in many cases get as little as half of what regular employees earn.

   "We can convince the workers (to agree to the revision) only if we say we will work to reduce the number of non-regular workers and improve their status," Rep. Choo Mi-ae of the DP told the GNP whip in a meeting.

   Choo, the chairwoman of the Assembly committee on environment and labor, has rejected the ruling party's demand to put the revision bill to a vote, citing the lack of consensus between the rival parties.

   The GNP has also asked Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o to invoke his authority and call a vote without a committee report, but he has already refused two similar requests since the ruling party began pushing for the revision late last year.

   Kim, a former member of the GNP, said Tuesday that he was closely following the last minute negotiations between the rival parties, but added he was still opposed to railroading the bill.
GNP officials have said the party was willing to rewrite the proposed revision if the opposition agrees to legislate the bill before the time runs out, but that there will be no concessions if the opposition continues to block its passage.

   bdk@yna.co.kr
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