S-OIL Introduces 4-Shift 2-Team Work System, First in Petrochemical Industry

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] S-OIL is the first in the petrochemical industry to officially introduce a 4-team 2-shift work system.

S-OIL announced that in the approval vote conducted by the labor union among all members (1,806 people) on the 23rd and 24th of this month regarding the tentative agreement on wages and collective bargaining this year, 1,437 people (79.57%) voted, with 869 (60.47%) in favor, resulting in approval.

Accordingly, S-OIL has confirmed the introduction of the 4-team 2-shift work system starting January 1 next year. Since agreeing to a pilot implementation of the 4-team 2-shift system in the 2018 wage and collective bargaining negotiations, the labor and management formed a dedicated team last year and held 45 rounds of negotiations before agreeing on formal implementation.

The 4-team 2-shift system divides work groups into four teams: two teams work 12 hours each during day and night shifts, while the other two teams have days off, resting for two days at a time.

Compared to the 4-team 3-shift system currently implemented by most of the petrochemical industry, daily working hours increase from 8 to 12 hours, but the total annual working hours remain the same. However, workers have more days off annually, including paid leave.

Petrochemical industry workers have supported the 4-team 2-shift system because it reduces the number of commutes without changing the workforce, thereby increasing personal time utilization.