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 long work hours.
Won Jung-hwan reports.
The South Korean government is expected to bring a change to Korea's work-life balance as the country kicks off its 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... down 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 weekends or public holidays.
To enforce the system, the government will fine business owners who do not follow the new rules.
And according to an expert, the reduced working hours will bring a significant change to the public's health.
"Many critical diseases such as cardiovascular disease, which threaten the health of general workers, are due to long working hours,… So I think the 52 working hour limit will be a dramatic change in improving the health of workers."
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 workers and adopting flexible hours to meet employees' particular needs.
Given the circumstances, the government is implementing a six-month grace period for companies to slowly adapt to the change.
Also, for a smooth transition across the whole South Korean labor market, the government has given a bit more time for smaller firms to implement the rules. Companies with 50-to-300 workers should implement the regulations starting January 2020, and those with 5-to-50 employees should do so by July 2021.
But some have voiced concerns about possible side effects, saying the new regulations could force some people to look for part-time jobs to supplement their reduced earnings due to the shorter amount of available overtime work.
"On the labor side there may be a substantial cut in pay because by Korean law you get 50% overtime extra pay when you working beyond 40 hours a week, and 50 to 100% extra pay when you work during the weekend,... when you cut working hours from 68 to 52, you are cutting the most lucrative time of working, so a lot of workers are going to get their pay cut and lot of laborers do not like that."
As the system has just been adopted, there will inevitably be some confusion and issues to iron out. So the government needs to work closely 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 change to Korea's work-life balance as the country kicks off its 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... down 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 weekends or public holidays.
To enforce the system, the government will fine business owners who do not follow the new rules.
And according to an expert, the reduced working hours will bring a significant change to the public's health.
"Many critical diseases such as cardiovascular disease, which threaten the health of general workers, are due to long working hours,… So I think the 52 working hour limit will be a dramatic change in improving the health of workers."
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 workers and adopting flexible hours to meet employees' particular needs.
Given the circumstances, the government is implementing a six-month grace period for companies to slowly adapt to the change.
Also, for a smooth transition across the whole South Korean labor market, the government has given a bit more time for smaller firms to implement the rules. Companies with 50-to-300 workers should implement the regulations starting January 2020, and those with 5-to-50 employees should do so by July 2021.
But some have voiced concerns about possible side effects, saying the new regulations could force some people to look for part-time jobs to supplement their reduced earnings due to the shorter amount of available overtime work.
"On the labor side there may be a substantial cut in pay because by Korean law you get 50% overtime extra pay when you working beyond 40 hours a week, and 50 to 100% extra pay when you work during the weekend,... when you cut working hours from 68 to 52, you are cutting the most lucrative time of working, so a lot of workers are going to get their pay cut and lot of laborers do not like that."
As the system has just been adopted, there will inevitably be some confusion and issues to iron out. So the government needs to work closely with workers and employers to mitigate any adverse effects of the policy in the coming years. Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.