Labor Minister Effectively Opposes Exemption from the 52-Hour Workweek, Saying Companies Should Boost Productivity

[Financial News] Kim Young-hoon, minister of employment and labor, effectively voiced opposition on Aug. 12 to applying an exemption from the 52-hour workweek to research and development (R&D) jobs, saying, "I will look for solutions that can protect workers and also raise corporate productivity." He had previously clashed with Kim Jung-kwan, minister of trade and industry, who supports the exemption.
At a plenary session of the National Assembly Committee on Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor that day, Kim responded to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who asked, "What is the government's position on exempting the Honam semiconductor mega project from the 52-hour workweek?" He replied, "Nothing has been decided."
At the same session, Kim said, "There is no disagreement that the mega special zone must succeed." He added, "We will communicate with labor groups as well as companies to better understand what businesses want, and we will think about how to ultimately help national development."
Lawmakers from the Democratic Party of Korea on the committee oppose applying an exemption to the 52-hour workweek. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Tae-seon said at the session, "I do not think workers' rights should be sacrificed unconditionally just because a mega project is needed." He added, "When designing the mega project, we must listen to local communities and workers and communicate sufficiently. Even if a special exception is introduced, we should communicate in a way that eases labor's concerns and review the safeguards workers need."
Meanwhile, the People Power Party says the exemption should be expanded nationwide, not just in Honam. Na said, "The very idea of a 52-hour workweek exemption for the Honam mega project is contradictory. When our party has raised this issue in the past, it was criticized as 'labor reform gone wrong' and 'labor exploitation.'" She asked, "Isn't this an acknowledgment that exceptions are unavoidable in practice?"
She also stressed, "This is not just a Honam issue; it could become regional discrimination." She urged the government to "expand the exemption from the 52-hour rule for researchers across all industries." Referring to Kim Young-hoon's background with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), she also pressured him, saying, "Don't worry about the KCTU's reaction."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Trade and Industry remain at odds over whether to apply the 52-hour workweek exemption. Cheong Wa Dae is taking a wait-and-see approach, saying labor's consent is needed. The Democratic Party has also failed to reach a unified position, leaving the party leadership cautious.

[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter