Seoul: A major umbrella labor union said Wednesday it plans to stage a general strike next week, demanding businesses engage in direct negotiations with subcontracted workers.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) announced that the collective action will take place next Wednesday. The KCTU argues that businesses have resisted directly negotiating with subcontracted workers despite a newly amended labor law designed to ensure such negotiations.

In March, the yellow envelope act went into effect, which expanded subcontracted workers' bargaining rights and increased the accountability of prime contractors. Despite this legislative change, the KCTU claims that many businesses continue to evade their responsibilities.

About 10,000 workers under the umbrella union are expected to participate in next week's strike. A rally is scheduled to occur near Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, highlighting the union's frustration with the current situation.

Yang Kyeung-soo, head of the KCTU, emphasized the difficulty faced by unions in securing negotiations. He stated that unions under the KCTU's umbrella requested negotiations with over 400 primary contractors in the past four months, yet actual negotiations took place in only four cases. "When the status of the prime contractor is clear yet they evade responsibility, workers have no choice but to fight back," Yang said during a press conference.