Due to worsening public opinion, Yoon backs down on '60-hour workweek'... Work hour reform returns to square one (Comprehensive)

Criticism Grows Over '69-Hour Workweek,' Yoon Takes a Step Back
"Even with Overtime, Over 60 Hours a Week Is Excessive"
Employment Ministry Expected to Revise Reform Plan with Upper Limit
Outstanding Issues Include Inclusive Pay and Vacation Guarantees
Poorly Executed Reform Sparks Calls for Employment Ministry Accountability

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol recently stated regarding the controversial reform plan for the working hours system that "even with extended work, working more than 60 hours a week is excessive," increasing the likelihood of significant revisions to the existing government proposal. Previously, the Ministry of Employment and Labor proposed expanding the maximum working hours from the current limit of 52 hours per week to 69 hours per week. However, since President Yoon set the standard, the maximum working hours are expected to be lowered to below 60 hours.

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik is speaking at the Labor Reform Promotion Inspection Meeting held on the 6th at the Seoul Employment and Labor Office in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the 16th, Ahn Sang-hoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs at the Presidential Office, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office, stating, "President Yoon believes that even with extended work, working more than 60 hours a week is excessive," and added, "He expressed regret that the government proposal submitted for legislative notice did not set an appropriate upper cap on working hours and instructed for its supplementation." On the 14th, President Yoon directed the Ministry of Employment and Labor to revise the working hours reform plan amid strong criticism, and on this day, he specifically set the standard at '60 hours per week.'

According to government officials, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has begun supplementary work on the working hours reform plan announced on the 6th. The measures to eradicate the misuse of the comprehensive wage system, which were originally scheduled to be announced on the same day, have also been indefinitely postponed. A ministry official said, "We have been instructed to thoroughly listen to opinions on the working hours system and review it further, so the related measures on the comprehensive wage system, which are part of this, also need to be supplemented," adding, "The announcement timing is still undecided."

Premature Ministry of Employment and Labor... Ruling Party Also Says "Not Smooth"

Since President Yoon expressed regret that the government proposal did not set an appropriate upper cap on working hours, responsibility is also being raised for the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the competent ministry. Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, commented on the emerging responsibility of Minister Lee Jeong-sik of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, saying, "The process of announcement and forming consensus was not smooth," and "It is very regrettable that explanations were given in a way that could cause misunderstandings."

The Ministry of Employment and Labor, which had evaluated the working hours reform plan as a "historic advancement," has also taken a step back. Minister Lee said at the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office the previous day, regarding the revision of the '69 hours per week' limit, "We are keeping all possibilities open," and "Better ideas may emerge during the legislative notice period." This stance differs from the previous approach, which dismissed concerns about increased overwork due to the reform and focused solely on persuading public opinion.

Relaxation of 52-Hour Week Inevitable... Full Effort to Persuade MZ Generation

However, since relaxing the '52-hour week' was a presidential campaign promise, extending the maximum working hours is inevitable. Senior Secretary Ahn also explained the background of the working hours reform on this day, saying, "There have long been calls for improvement regarding the rigidity of the 52-hour workweek system in our labor market," and "The Ministry of Employment and Labor has submitted a bill for legislative notice allowing the unit period for extended working hours to be selected through labor-management agreement among 'monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual' periods, aiming to guarantee workers' choice, health rights, and rest rights according to labor-management agreements."

Accordingly, the government is expected to focus on actively persuading the necessity of flexible working hours while adjusting the maximum working hours to below 60 hours per week. President Yoon recently criticized the lack of policy promotion rather than the increase in maximum working hours itself when instructing the supplementation of the reform plan. The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to propose alternatives through the supplementary review process, including a specific maximum weekly working hour limit, mandatory 11-hour rest periods between working days, strengthened long-term leave guarantees, and management measures for workplaces misusing the comprehensive wage system.

Minister Lee is also focusing on persuading vulnerable labor groups such as the MZ generation (Millennials + Generation Z), small and medium-sized enterprises, and non-regular workers about the necessity of the working hours reform. He first met with the MZ labor union to hear their opinions the previous day and planned to hold a meeting with the '2030 Advisory Group' in the afternoon. Professor Lim Mu-song, a visiting professor at Inha University and former chairman of the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission, said at a Job Solidarity forum the previous day, "There is an impression that the reform plan proposed by President Yoon and the reform tasks promoted by the cabinet are not organically connected," adding, "The rationality and persuasiveness of the content and a meticulous implementation strategy are key to success."

"No Vacation, Only Unpaid Overtime"... Ministry of Employment and Labor Deeply Concerned

In the labor community, there is a strong call for measures to be prepared first regarding unpaid overtime and guaranteed vacation use, which are the biggest concerns for workers. The government's reform plan aims to allow workers to take long vacations when work is slow instead of working 69 hours in a concentrated manner when work is heavy. However, many workers criticize, "We will still do overtime, but feel pressured not to take vacations." In particular, the incentives proposed by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, such as 'living in Jeju Island for a month' or a 'four-day workweek,' are criticized as ideas that do not consider the situation of most small and medium-sized enterprises.

Deputy Minister Kwon Ki-seop said at a briefing on the working hours system on the 9th, "There are aspects of extreme criticism of the reform plan," but added, "It is reasonable to consider whether workers can rest after concentrated work." However, since vacation use varies by company circumstances and the government cannot enforce it through regulation, preparing measures is difficult. A ministry official said, "Whether to use vacation is actually a matter of (company) culture," and "It is difficult for the government to clearly propose measures."

Especially, the labor community sees that the misuse of the comprehensive wage system must be resolved first to flexibilize working hours. The comprehensive wage system is a system where overtime pay is not paid separately but included in the salary and paid as a lump sum. Under this wage system, if only the maximum working hours increase, unpaid overtime or 'free overtime' may increase. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions criticized, "Increasing only the maximum working hours without mentioning the prohibition or strict supervision of the comprehensive wage system is a sign that the Ministry of Employment and Labor has forgotten its very reason for existence."

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