"Work Hours Exceed 52 Due to COVID-19... 195 Sites Apply for Special Extended Work"

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Due to the rapid increase in workload caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), quarantine mask manufacturers and quarantine companies are consecutively applying for special extended work hours.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 4th, a total of 195 workplaces applied for special extended work hours from January 29 to 4 p.m. on the 3rd of this month.

Among the workplaces that applied for special extended work hours, 31 were mask production-related companies. The Ministry of Employment and Labor approved special extended work hours for 27 of these. There were 86 workplaces that applied for special extended work hours due to COVID-19 quarantine work, and 80 of them were approved.

Due to the suspension of operations at factories in China and other effects, 36 workplaces applied for special extended work hours as orders poured into Korea, and the Ministry of Employment and Labor approved 34 of these.

Special extended work hours is a system that allows employers to temporarily require workers to work beyond the statutory labor hour limit of 52 hours per week in special circumstances, with the consent of the workers and approval from the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

In the past, special extended work hours were exceptionally allowed only in cases of disasters or accidents, but the Ministry of Employment and Labor has been approving them for business reasons such as sudden increases in workload since January through amendments to the enforcement regulations.

Meanwhile, workplaces implementing temporary closures or leaves due to the spread of COVID-19 are also increasing rapidly. From January 29 to the 3rd of this month, 4,408 workplaces reported plans for temporary closure or leave to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

By industry, the travel industry (1,256 workplaces) had the highest number of reports. Manufacturing (556 workplaces) and education (471 workplaces) followed.

If these workplaces actually implement temporary closure or leave, they can apply for employment retention subsidies. The employment retention subsidy is a system that supports labor costs when employers who inevitably need to adjust employment due to decreased sales or production take employment retention measures such as temporary closure or leave.

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