People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik on Friday urged the Democratic Party of Korea to withdraw a proposed amendment to the Labor Standards Act that would allow companies to pay performance bonuses in local gift vouchers, saying the bill "violates the freedom of choice that workers are naturally entitled to."
Speaking at a PPP floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly, Jeong said some Democratic Party lawmakers introduced the amendment on Tuesday, citing the need to create a virtuous cycle between large corporate bonuses and the revitalization of local economies.
He argued that the bill does not explicitly require worker consent for voucher-based payments, warning that government pressure on companies — as seen with the Honam semiconductor cluster — would routinely leave workers with no real choice but to comply.
"How a worker spends their bonus is a matter of personal freedom," Jeong said. "Local gift vouchers have limited uses and a restricted retail network, so paying bonuses in vouchers infringes on the freedom of choice that workers are naturally entitled to."
Jeong also accused the Democratic Party of what he called its "chronic moral vanity," saying, "Why do they meddle in money others have earned, spend it as if it were their own, and then act like paragons of virtue?"
He then challenged the party to lead by example. "If the Democratic Party truly believes in the economic benefits of local gift vouchers, show it through action rather than legislation," he said. "I urge Democratic Party lawmakers and party staff to start receiving a substantial portion of their own salaries in local gift vouchers and live on them."
Jeong added that bills introduced by lawmakers from the ruling party and the National Assembly majority carry significant social consequences from the moment they are filed. "I suggest the Democratic Party, as a responsible ruling party, review each bill more carefully before introducing it," he said.
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