South Korea labor commission exceeds legal budget amid new lawsuits

South Korea’s Yellow Envelope Law took effect in March.

The law makes the Central Labor Relations Commission decide whether a main contractor is an employer of a subcontractor’s union and must negotiate with it.

Companies and unions that disagree with the commission’s rulings have filed a series of administrative lawsuits against it.

The cases concern who counts as an employer and whether bargaining is required.

As a result, the commission’s spending on outside lawyers has already exceeded its budget for this year.

The information provided does not say what steps the commission will take next.