"Over 52 Hours Worked Weekly Due to COVID-19"…306 Special Extended Work Approvals by Ministry of Employment

Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. / Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The number of approvals for 'special extended work hours'?allowing workplaces to exceed the statutory 52-hour workweek?has surpassed 300 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the 12th, Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated, "We are taking swift measures whenever special extended work hours are necessary for COVID-19 related quarantine, treatment, mask production, and domestic alternative manufacturing," adding, "As of yesterday, the number of approvals for special extended work hours related to COVID-19 stands at 306."

Special extended work hours is a system that permits employers, under special circumstances, to temporarily require employees to work beyond the legal limit of 52 hours per week, with the consent of the employees and approval from the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

The Ministry has expanded the reasons for approval, including 'sudden increase in workload,' through amendments to enforcement regulations effective from January 31. From January 31 to the 11th of this month, a total of 479 applications were submitted, of which 429 were approved. Among these, 306 cases (71.3%) were related to COVID-19 special extended work hours.

Among these, the breakdown is as follows: 115 cases (37.6%) due to responses by medical institutions, quarantine, and inspection; 21 cases (6.9%) for mask production; 16 cases (5.2%) for production of disinfectants and protective equipment; 41 cases (13.4%) for expanding domestic factory alternative production; and 113 cases (36.9%) for other measures such as individual company quarantine and prevention actions.

On the same day, Minister Lee visited Mediana, located in Wonju, Gangwon Province, which had received approval for special extended work hours related to COVID-19, to listen to the difficulties of employees and offer encouragement.

Mediana is a manufacturer of medical, precision, and scientific equipment. Due to the recent surge in demand for oxygen saturation monitors for COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment, the company applied for and received approval for special extended work hours from the Ministry. Since the 9th, they have been working an additional 12 hours per week on top of the 52-hour workweek.

Minister Lee expressed gratitude, saying, "I appreciate that despite their individual hardships, the employees are enduring additional extended work hours and doing their best to urgently produce COVID-19 diagnostic and treatment devices."

He also urged, "Please pay special attention to health protection measures to ensure that workers do not experience health problems during the special extended work period."

Meanwhile, following his site visit, Minister Lee visited the nearby Wonju Employment Welfare Plus Center to encourage staff responsible for COVID-19 related corporate support services.

He acknowledged, "With the increase in business closures and the use of flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting due to COVID-19, inquiries about government support applications and system details have surged, and you have been working hard every day."

He added, "I hope you will continue to give your best to alleviate the difficulties faced by employers and workers who are going through the toughest times ever."

Minister Lee also stated, "We are recently expanding and establishing new government support related to COVID-19," and urged, "Please do your utmost to provide detailed explanations to employers and workers so that no one misses out on utilizing these programs due to lack of information."

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