52-Hour Workweek Exception for Chips... Cabinet Ministers Divided
To maintain world-class technological prowess, senior government officials are locked in a tense standoff over granting exceptions to the '52-hour workweek' for high-tech industries like semiconductors. There is no consensus within the government on whether to lift the labor hour restrictions maintained for the past eight years or how to ensure fairness with other sectors.
Industry Minister Kim Dae-gyu, speaking at a Kwanhun Club debate on the 6th, cited Chinese companies' '996' work culture (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 6 days a week) to argue for the need to relax labor regulations. Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-joo countered by emphasizing that the so-called '996' work schedule is illegal under Chinese law.
The controversy was sparked by the creation of the Seo-Nam (South-West) semiconductor mega-cluster. A special bill is being promoted that would exclude high-income managers and R&D personnel from the 52-hour workweek cap.
Ahn Ki-hyun, executive vice president of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association, noted that companies must constantly develop yield-improving technologies, requiring researchers to conduct experiments day and night. Kim Jun-yeong, chairman of the National Metal Workers' Union, countered by emphasizing the experience that a small breach can collapse a large dam, arguing that granting an exception even once could shake the foundations of the system.
The Mega-Cluster Bill, which was slated to be proposed as early as July, is seeing its introduction delayed amid the controversy over the 52-hour workweek.
