24-Hour Operating Mask Factory... Only One Application for Special Overtime Work

Securing Mask Supply Hampered by 52-Hour Workweek
Need to Produce 10 Million Masks Daily
Minimal Progress in Special Overtime System Reform
Continued Entry of Chinese Residents Using H2 Visa
200-300 Chinese Entering Under Employment Permit System

On the 30th, amid the ongoing threat of the novel coronavirus, a notice board indicating mask purchase limits per person is displayed at a large supermarket in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Amid an emergency to secure mask supplies due to the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), the 52-hour workweek system is hindering companies. Although the government hastily reformed the special extended work system to allow work beyond 52 hours per week, the effect has been minimal so far. It has been reported that only one out of 123 domestic mask manufacturers applied for special extended work.

On the 2nd, health authorities announced plans to establish an emergency response system with manufacturers to ensure smooth mask supply, operating factories 24 hours a day to produce more than 10 million masks daily. It is estimated that there are 123 domestic mask manufacturers, most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises. This has created a situation where it has become difficult to comply with the 52-hour workweek system applied to small and medium-sized workplaces with 50 to 299 employees starting this year.

An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, "The government has established a constant response system with mask manufacturers, operating an emergency contact network and conducting daily monitoring by checking mask production and inventory levels," adding, "Due to the high demand, official letters requesting cooperation to prevent supply disruptions have also been sent."

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, the Ministry of Employment and Labor reformed the special extended work system to allow exceeding the maximum weekly extended work hours of 12 hours in cases such as ▲protection of human life and safety ▲unexpected situations like equipment breakdowns ▲surges in workload. This enables mask manufacturers responding to the novel coronavirus situation to work more than 64 hours per week. However, as of 9 a.m. on the 3rd, only one company producing masks for hospital staff has applied for special extended work with the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

An official from the Ministry of Employment and Labor stated, "Although applications were accepted online over the weekend, only one company has applied for special extended work related to the novel coronavirus situation." Even considering the one-year grace period granted to small and medium-sized enterprises subject to the 52-hour workweek system starting this year, the field's response to the government's supplementary measures for the 52-hour system remains lukewarm.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response to the mask shortage, the government emphasized strict crackdowns on hoarding. Hong Nam-ki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, stated that market disruption caused by the surge in demand for masks and hand sanitizers will be thoroughly blocked. Hong said, "Rapid price increases and unilateral transaction cancellations are causing market disruptions and increasing public anxiety," adding, "We will never tolerate market disruption and will respond as strongly as possible."

Meanwhile, foreign workers of Chinese nationality continue to enter the country. The Ministry of Employment and Labor decided to temporarily suspend employment training for Chinese ethnic Koreans entering the country with H2 visas for one month in February. However, since the entry of Chinese workers itself is not blocked, it is insufficient to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus domestically. Those with H2 visas can work in manufacturing, agriculture, livestock and fisheries, and service industries.

An official from the Ministry of Employment and Labor said, "From December last year to January this year, about 10,000 people were issued H2 visas, among whom only one was from Hubei Province, and although the visa was issued, that person did not enter the country." He added, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor does not have the authority to block the entry of Chinese ethnic Koreans," and "This is a precaution to prevent infections during group training."

There is currently no practical way to block the entry of Chinese workers entering with the non-professional employment (E9) visa, known as the Employment Permit System. The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to delay entry or impose quarantine measures if abnormal signs are detected through health examinations for foreigners entering with E9 visas. An official said, "About 56,000 foreign workers from 16 countries enter Korea annually with E9 visas, among whom about 200 to 300 are Chinese nationals," adding, "None come directly from Hubei Province; they are only accepted from Henan, Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Shandong provinces."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.