Mid-sized Enterprises Welcome "Reform Measures for Working Hours System"

"Turning Point in Resolving Rigid Working Hours Undermining Corporate Competitiveness"

The mid-sized enterprise sector welcomed the government's plan to reform the working hours system as a measure that will greatly help revitalize the industrial field. The Korea Federation of Mid-sized Enterprises (KFME) stated on the 6th that this reform plan will "strengthen the flexibility of rigid working hours, which has been pointed out as a key factor in weakening corporate competitiveness and deteriorating worker benefits."

KFME said, "The decision to expand the management unit of extended working hours from the current weekly basis to monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual units will enable flexible responses when concentrated work is necessary," adding, "Basing this on labor-management agreements will help ease unnecessary conflicts between labor and management and strengthen solidarity for economic development."

It further explained, "Regarding workers' health rights, measures such as 11 consecutive hours of rest during extended working hours and compliance with the weekly 64-hour limit to supplement this are desirable, but to enhance the effectiveness of the system, above all, various options suitable for individual companies and workers' situations should be autonomously chosen by labor and management."

KFME also stated, "To effectively respond to changes in the global economic environment, it is necessary to actively improve the regulatory environment, including outdated labor practices, and the government, as well as the National Assembly, companies, workers, and civil society, must all come together with wisdom to find solutions where workers and companies can grow together."

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