Labor and Management Differ on Union Work Hour Exemption Limits... Discussions Extended Beyond Lunar New Year

The Working Hours Exemption Deliberation Committee Decides to Make a Resolution on February 3

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] No agreement has been reached between labor and management regarding the adjustment of the labor union’s working hours exemption (time off) limits. Discussions are expected to continue after the Lunar New Year holiday.

On the 25th, the Working Hours Exemption Deliberation Committee (Geunmyeonwi), a subcommittee under the Economic, Social and Labor Council (Gyeongsanwi), a social dialogue body directly under the president, held its 16th plenary meeting at the Gyeongsanwi main conference room in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The working hours exemption system sets standards on how many paid full-time union officials a union can have while receiving a salary from the company.

Labor and management each explained the basis of the first revised proposal presented at the previous meeting and then presented a second revised proposal with some adjustments. However, according to Gyeongsanwi, the gap between the two sides’ positions has not narrowed enough to reach a resolution.

Labor and management are expected to continue related discussions at the 17th plenary meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. on February 3, after the Lunar New Year holiday. Gyeongsanwi requested deliberation on the working hours exemption limits on November 30 last year and must reach a resolution within 60 days. Although 60 days from November 30 last year falls on the 29th of this month, Geunmyeonwi decided to make the resolution on February 3, considering the Lunar New Year holiday and other factors.

Earlier, the labor side proposed as their initial plan: ▲ integration of limit ranges and abolition of restrictions on part-time usage ▲ deletion of criteria for additional limits based on regional distribution (workplaces with 1,000 or more employees) ▲ additional limits considering workplaces with shift work and activities in federations ▲ recognition of exceptions to limits for full-time workers engaged in industrial accident prevention activities at small and medium-sized workplaces.

On the other hand, the management side initially demanded: ▲ subdivision of working hours exemption limit ranges and reduction of the maximum limit ▲ abolition of additional limits based on regional distribution ▲ reduction of limits for organizations under cross-company unions ▲ submission of working hours exemption usage plans.