The Government Announces "Expansion of Remote Work"... Companies Express Concerns Over "Serious Accidents and Strengthening of Labor Standards Act"

Business Community "Concerns Over Expansion of Labor Standards Act to Workplaces with Fewer Than 5 Employees"

Minister of Employment and Labor An Kyung-duk (right) and Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik of the Korea Employers Federation (left) pose for a commemorative photo after discussing labor issues such as the expansion of remote work on the 29th of last month. (Photo by Ministry of Employment and Labor)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] After confirming that many companies intend to maintain remote work systems even after the end of COVID-19, the government requested the business community to cooperate in expanding flexible work arrangements. The business community, in turn, asked for revisions to labor regulations such as the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which will take effect on the 27th.

On the 29th of last month, An Kyung-duk, Minister of Employment and Labor, met with Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (KOSME), and Sohn Kyung-shik, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), urging them to "help spread remote work through their member companies." After receiving responses from companies operating remote work systems through this year's employment impact assessment, stating that "since productivity has not decreased, they will maintain the current level of remote work even after the end of COVID-19," Minister An personally engaged in 'policy sales.' He said, "At this time when overcoming the severe COVID-19 situation is critical, social distancing through remote work is more necessary than ever," and urged, "We hope economic organizations will work hard to expand remote work through their member companies."

Earlier, on the 16th, the Korea Labor Institute reported that among 620 workplaces implementing remote work in this year's employment impact assessment, 75.2% said they would maintain remote work at the current level even after the end of COVID-19. Among these companies, 53.6% responded that there was no difference in productivity while implementing remote work, and 18.7% said productivity actually increased. According to Statistics Korea, the number of remote workers increased twelvefold from 95,000 in 2019 to 1.14 million this year. The number of workers wishing to work remotely also more than doubled from 551,000 to 1.188 million during the same period. Regarding this, Minister An emphasized, "We will actively support efforts to introduce remote work through various supports such as consulting and spreading best practices," and requested, "We ask economic organizations and their member companies to actively cooperate."

Minister of Employment and Labor An Kyung-duk (left) and Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business (right), having a conversation about labor issues such as the expansion of remote work on the 29th of last month. (Photo by Ministry of Employment and Labor)

The business community requested the government to ease regulations in return for their cooperation. Chairman Sohn said, "For various work methods including remote work to settle and activate in the field, flexible working hours such as the expansion of flexible work systems must be supported," and demanded, "Labor-related laws and systems must be changed to allow flexible responses to rapid industrial environment changes. Please also pay attention to the advancement of labor laws and systems." Chairman Kim said, "Please expand support so that remote work can be smoothly spread even in small and medium enterprises, and actively reflect the voices of SMEs regarding labor issues such as the implementation of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which is just a month away."

Meanwhile, on this day, the business community expressed concerns about discussions in the political sphere regarding the expansion of the Labor Standards Act to workplaces with fewer than five employees and the introduction of a working hours exemption system that expands to full-time union members. Chairman Sohn said, "Discussions are underway in the National Assembly to apply the Labor Standards Act to workplaces with fewer than five employees, and the Presidential Commission on Economic, Social and Labor Affairs is reviewing the working hours exemption system, causing great concern among companies," adding, "As the COVID-19 situation prolongs and the phased recovery of daily life is delayed, the circumstances of small and micro enterprises and small business owners are very difficult, so please be mindful not to increase their management burdens." The Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business also requested the government to expand support for substitute labor costs during production workforce shortages due to COVID-19, consulting on the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, and safety expenses.

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