S. Korea kicks off 52-hour maximum workweek starting from July
- 6 years ago
South Korea officially shortened its maximum workweek to 52-hours starting this month,… to improve people's quality of life by tackling the country's notoriously long work hours.
Won Jung-hwan reports.
The South Korean government is expected to bring a new change in the public's everyday life as the country kicks off 52-hour maximum workweek system starting from July 1.
The new change, effective for businesses with more than 300 employees,… limits Korean workers to work less than 52 hours per week from the previous 68-hour system.
The new 12 hours of extra overtime will now include the previous 16 hour slot that was used for Day-off or weekends during each weeks.
The government has been stern to chance the working hour system. If the rules are not followed, there will be consequences for business owners as they can face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to nearly 18-thousand U.S. dollars.
While many big businesses, which have been bracing for the system for the past few months by hiring new workers and overhauling their working hour system, are expected to adopt to the new system without much of a hitch,… the problem lies with small and medium-sized companies as they have been facing a variety of difficulties, including trouble hiring new people and adopting flexible hours to meet employees' particular needs.
Given the circumstances, the government is implementing a six-month grace period for those companies to take their time in applying the change and allow the system to take soft-landing.
Also to implement a smooth transition in the whole South Korean labor market, the government will follow a roadmap to reach everyone in the near future as well. Companies with 50-to-300 workers should implement the regulation starting January 2020, and those with 5-to-50 should do so on July 2021.
But as the system has just been adopted, there will inevitably be some confusion in many workplaces. Some voiced concern about possible side effects as it could lead to some people to force to look for part-time jobs to supplement their reduced earnings due to the cut of overtime work payment.
As a result, the government needs to closely cooperate with workers and employers to mitigate any adverse effects of the policy in the coming years. Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.
Won Jung-hwan reports.
The South Korean government is expected to bring a new change in the public's everyday life as the country kicks off 52-hour maximum workweek system starting from July 1.
The new change, effective for businesses with more than 300 employees,… limits Korean workers to work less than 52 hours per week from the previous 68-hour system.
The new 12 hours of extra overtime will now include the previous 16 hour slot that was used for Day-off or weekends during each weeks.
The government has been stern to chance the working hour system. If the rules are not followed, there will be consequences for business owners as they can face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to nearly 18-thousand U.S. dollars.
While many big businesses, which have been bracing for the system for the past few months by hiring new workers and overhauling their working hour system, are expected to adopt to the new system without much of a hitch,… the problem lies with small and medium-sized companies as they have been facing a variety of difficulties, including trouble hiring new people and adopting flexible hours to meet employees' particular needs.
Given the circumstances, the government is implementing a six-month grace period for those companies to take their time in applying the change and allow the system to take soft-landing.
Also to implement a smooth transition in the whole South Korean labor market, the government will follow a roadmap to reach everyone in the near future as well. Companies with 50-to-300 workers should implement the regulation starting January 2020, and those with 5-to-50 should do so on July 2021.
But as the system has just been adopted, there will inevitably be some confusion in many workplaces. Some voiced concern about possible side effects as it could lead to some people to force to look for part-time jobs to supplement their reduced earnings due to the cut of overtime work payment.
As a result, the government needs to closely cooperate with workers and employers to mitigate any adverse effects of the policy in the coming years. Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.