Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise: "4.5-Day Workweek and Expansion of Labor Standards Act Are a Catastrophe"

Launching the "One Million Signature Campaign" Against the 4.5-Day Workweek

The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise announced on the 1st that it will launch a campaign to collect one million signatures in opposition to the government's recent push for the introduction of a 4.5-day workweek and the expansion of the Labor Standards Act.

At a press conference on employment issues held at the main conference room of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on this day, President Song Chiyoung stated, "If the 4.5-day workweek is introduced without resolving the current excessive and unreasonable labor cost burden, it would be tantamount to a 'death sentence' for small business owners who are already on the brink of survival."

President Song argued, "If the weekly holiday allowance is maintained, small-scale business owners will suffer a double burden," and insisted that the weekly holiday allowance is an outdated system that must be abolished, especially as the discussion has moved beyond a five-day workweek to a 4.5-day workweek.

Song Chiyoung, president of the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise, and key officials are urging the government to withdraw its policy on the 4.5-day workweek at the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise's main conference room in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the 1st. Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise

President Song also expressed concerns about the government's plan, announced as a national policy task, to expand the application of the Labor Standards Act to businesses with fewer than five employees. Referring to two Constitutional Court rulings upholding the exemption for businesses with fewer than five employees, he said, "There is no room for reconsideration," and urged the government to withdraw its policy. He also mentioned the potential for a surge in additional pay for holiday and night work, adding, "Irreversible chaos will be caused in the working environment of small business sectors."

He went on to say, "For industries where wages are calculated hourly, the combination of the 4.5-day workweek and the expanded application of the Labor Standards Act will lead to catastrophic results," emphasizing, "The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise will strongly oppose the introduction of the 4.5-day workweek unless the abolition of the weekly holiday allowance and the withdrawal of the policy to expand the Labor Standards Act to businesses with fewer than five employees are established as prerequisites."

He added, "We will immediately and vigorously launch the 'One Million Signature Campaign Against the 4.5-Day Workweek Without Abolishing the Weekly Holiday Allowance,'" calling for public interest and support.

The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise plans to mobilize all available means to strongly respond to any attempts to shift additional burdens onto small business owners going forward.

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