National Assembly passes bill aimed at boosting industrial safety
- 5 years ago
Over 80 bills were passed on Thursday night during the National Assembly's last plenary session of the year.
Despite hours of delays and the rival parties remaining at odds over a number of issues, lawmakers were able to strike a last minute deal... to get some agendas rolling.
Kim Min-ji reports.
South Korea's National Assembly passed a revision to the occupational safety and health act on Thursday during its final plenary session of 2018.
It means contractors will have to take measures to better ensure safety for irregular or contract workers,... and will ban the outsourcing of dangerous work.
In the case of an industrial accident -- stronger penalties will be imposed -- such as increased jail time of up to three years for the contractor -- triple what it is now.
The revision comes in the wake of an accident at a local power plant that claimed the life of a subcontractor -- after he was caught in a conveyor belt.
The specifics of the revised bill were subject to debate among the rival parties,... however, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party made some concessions,... after the ruling Democratic Party accepted a demand of theirs.
That is to convene a meeting of the assembly's Steering Committee -- to question key Cheong Wa Dae officials over recent allegations of civilian surveillance at the top office.
A special inspector from the prosecution claimed he illegally gathered information on many civilians, while working for the top office -- with a probe currently underway on the matter.
The meeting will take place next Monday -- with the presidential chief of staff and top secretary for civil affairs -- whom the main opposition accuses of playing a role -- in attendance.
But no deal was reached over bills aimed at boosting transparency and rooting out accounting fraud at kindergartens.
Instead, the National Assembly's education committee designated them as fast-track legislation... which means they can be put up for a full floor vote without deliberation... after 330 days.
Bills can be designated as fast track if they fail to get partisan support -- with three-fifths of the vote at the relevant standing committee.
The Liberty Korea Party was against it,... but the ruling party had enough votes thanks to support from the minor opposition.
Despite hiccups along the way,... the rival parties avoided the shame of leaving the December extraordinary session empty handed.
They also passed over 80 non-contested bills,... including one on giving monthly child allowances to parents with children aged six or under regardless of their income,... as well as another on curbing harassment at the workplace.
Rival lawmakers also extended the terms of non-standing parliamentary committees that were set to expire this month.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.
Despite hours of delays and the rival parties remaining at odds over a number of issues, lawmakers were able to strike a last minute deal... to get some agendas rolling.
Kim Min-ji reports.
South Korea's National Assembly passed a revision to the occupational safety and health act on Thursday during its final plenary session of 2018.
It means contractors will have to take measures to better ensure safety for irregular or contract workers,... and will ban the outsourcing of dangerous work.
In the case of an industrial accident -- stronger penalties will be imposed -- such as increased jail time of up to three years for the contractor -- triple what it is now.
The revision comes in the wake of an accident at a local power plant that claimed the life of a subcontractor -- after he was caught in a conveyor belt.
The specifics of the revised bill were subject to debate among the rival parties,... however, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party made some concessions,... after the ruling Democratic Party accepted a demand of theirs.
That is to convene a meeting of the assembly's Steering Committee -- to question key Cheong Wa Dae officials over recent allegations of civilian surveillance at the top office.
A special inspector from the prosecution claimed he illegally gathered information on many civilians, while working for the top office -- with a probe currently underway on the matter.
The meeting will take place next Monday -- with the presidential chief of staff and top secretary for civil affairs -- whom the main opposition accuses of playing a role -- in attendance.
But no deal was reached over bills aimed at boosting transparency and rooting out accounting fraud at kindergartens.
Instead, the National Assembly's education committee designated them as fast-track legislation... which means they can be put up for a full floor vote without deliberation... after 330 days.
Bills can be designated as fast track if they fail to get partisan support -- with three-fifths of the vote at the relevant standing committee.
The Liberty Korea Party was against it,... but the ruling party had enough votes thanks to support from the minor opposition.
Despite hiccups along the way,... the rival parties avoided the shame of leaving the December extraordinary session empty handed.
They also passed over 80 non-contested bills,... including one on giving monthly child allowances to parents with children aged six or under regardless of their income,... as well as another on curbing harassment at the workplace.
Rival lawmakers also extended the terms of non-standing parliamentary committees that were set to expire this month.
Kim Min-ji, Arirang News.