The Ministry of Employment and Labor reported to the National Planning Commission on the plan to introduce a '4.5-day workweek,' a campaign promise by President Lee Jae-myung. This aims to fulfill the government's promise to reduce Korea's average annual working hours to below the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average.
According to the National Assembly on the 20th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor reported to the National Planning Commission the previous day a plan to either reduce the statutory working hours from 52 hours a week to 48 or reduce the allowable overtime hours from 12 to 8.
To introduce the 4.5-day workweek, the Ministry plans to enact a 'Shortened Actual Working Hours Support Act (tentative name)' by the end of this year. Additionally, the Ministry plans to pursue a mid- to long-term roadmap for reducing working hours, including abolishing the comprehensive wage system, which has been pointed out by the labor sector as a cause of 'free labor.'
To effectively reduce working hours, the Ministry is also pursuing the 'right to disconnect.' This means legally prohibiting work-related instructions through social media messengers after working hours. However, some exceptions will be made based on collective agreements or employment rules.
Regarding continued employment, the Ministry has reportedly emphasized 'extending the statutory retirement age' over 'rehiring after retirement' and plans to enact the law within the year. It has also prepared alternative legislation for the amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act (Yellow Envelope Act) to complete the legislative process in the National Assembly by the end of this year.
To promote the 4.5-day workweek, the Ministry plans to form and operate a 'Working Hours Reduction Committee.' It also plans to consider linking with the Committee for Recovery and Growth for Basic Society (Committee for Basic Society), a national agency dedicated to realizing a basic society.