[Anchor]
Businesses argue that regulatory shackles must be lifted to win the competition against the United States, Taiwan, and China. On the other hand, the labor sector expresses concern that once even a small crack forms in the 52-hour workweek system, there is no telling how far its scope will expand.
Amidst this tense tug-of-war, labor, management, and the government are set to sit face-to-face again tomorrow (October 28). Reporter Eom Minjae summarizes the discussions so far and the positions of both sides.
[Reporter]
The discussion on exempting semiconductor research and development personnel from the 52-hour workweek began in earnest when the People Power Party first included it in the Semiconductor Special Act in November of the year before last.
However, the Democratic Party and the labor sector strongly opposed it at the time, and the bill passed the National Assembly in January of this year with this provision removed.
Yet, as the Honam semiconductor cluster is being promoted, the issue resurfaced due to regional public opinion calling for incentives to attract companies and talent, and this remark by the President added momentum.
[President Lee Jae-myung (2nd Plenary Meeting of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee, October 23): Is there a need to create a new system? Let's discuss in depth whether we can modify the enforcement decree of the existing system or make the procedures easier....]
This is interpreted to mean that instead of revising the law in the National Assembly, the government could step in to revise subordinate regulations of the Labor Standards Act or simplify procedures for the existing special extended work system.
The labor sector maintains its stance that any method forcing long working hours is unacceptable.
[Jeon Ho-il / Spokesperson for the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions: Extended work and such aspects are already fully guaranteed. We cannot accept creating another method (through laws or enforcement decrees) when we can just utilize this system....]
Management counters that regulations must be eased to defeat the United States, Taiwan, and China.
[Hwang Yong-yeon / Director at the Korea Enterprises Federation: There are numerical constraints on core talent and engineers. The intent is to allow that limited number of personnel to work intensively and achieve results.]
The core issues are whether sufficient compensation and health protection measures can be established for easing workhour regulations.
Labor, management, and the government, which have held five meetings so far, will sit down for the sixth time tomorrow. Observers note that the success of the meeting hinges on whether the government can present alternatives to narrow this gap.
(Video Editing: Kim Yun-sung, VJ: Lee Ji-hwan)
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