Government to manage soft landing of shorter working hours policy
- 6 years ago
A new law is about to take effect in South Korea that will reduce the maximum weekly work hours from the current 68 hour to 52 hours.
Sounds great for burnt out workers,... but companies are worried about the knock on effects the change will have.
To ensure a smooth transition, the government has devised some special measures.
Our Won Jung-hwan explains how they'll work.
The government will implement certain measures to cushion firms from the impact of the new shorter working hours which come into effect next month.
Minister of Strategy and Finance Kim Dong-yeon said on Tuesday that the government will focus on managing a soft landing for the revised 52-hour-maximum working week, so that it reflects the needs of certain sectors.
Kim said the maximum working hours will be implemented in stages to try to cushion businesses from any negative impact, especially in the manufacturing and construction sectors and certain parts of the retail sector.
He also said that the government will allow special overtime working hours for ICT companies that manage key infrastructure such as server control and hacking prevention. Employees at these firms will be able to work an additional 12 hours a week.
The shorter maximum working hours, one of President Moon Jae-in's main election pledges,... is aimed at improving the work-life balance and reducing what are often called 'inhumanely long' working hours.
But some market watchers say,… while the reduced working hours will benefit many people,... others could suffer detrimental effects.
Some labor groups are against the new system as it cuts the salaries of employees at smaller companies,… and employers are opposed as shortened work hours tend to increase labor costs.
The government needs to closely cooperate with workers and employers to mitigate any adverse effects of the policy.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.
Sounds great for burnt out workers,... but companies are worried about the knock on effects the change will have.
To ensure a smooth transition, the government has devised some special measures.
Our Won Jung-hwan explains how they'll work.
The government will implement certain measures to cushion firms from the impact of the new shorter working hours which come into effect next month.
Minister of Strategy and Finance Kim Dong-yeon said on Tuesday that the government will focus on managing a soft landing for the revised 52-hour-maximum working week, so that it reflects the needs of certain sectors.
Kim said the maximum working hours will be implemented in stages to try to cushion businesses from any negative impact, especially in the manufacturing and construction sectors and certain parts of the retail sector.
He also said that the government will allow special overtime working hours for ICT companies that manage key infrastructure such as server control and hacking prevention. Employees at these firms will be able to work an additional 12 hours a week.
The shorter maximum working hours, one of President Moon Jae-in's main election pledges,... is aimed at improving the work-life balance and reducing what are often called 'inhumanely long' working hours.
But some market watchers say,… while the reduced working hours will benefit many people,... others could suffer detrimental effects.
Some labor groups are against the new system as it cuts the salaries of employees at smaller companies,… and employers are opposed as shortened work hours tend to increase labor costs.
The government needs to closely cooperate with workers and employers to mitigate any adverse effects of the policy.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.