'69-Hour Workweek' Adjustment Inevitable... Minister Lee Jeong-sik "All Possibilities Open"

Legislative Notice Two Days Left, Mention of Possible Amendments
"No Intention to Amend" Contrasts with Prime Minister's Statement
Draws Line on Disposal or Fundamental Reconsideration Plans

Lee Jung-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, is speaking at the labor-management meeting for workplaces excelling in working hours recording and management held on the 15th at the Seoul Employment and Labor Office in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The government officially signaled the possibility of revising the plan to expand the working hours system to a maximum of 69 hours per week just nine days after announcing it.

On the 15th, Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, told reporters before a labor-management meeting at the Seoul Employment and Labor Office on excellent workplaces for working hours record management that "all possibilities are open" regarding changes to the working hours system reform plan. This contrasts with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's statement that "there is no thought of needing to revise it. We will actively explain it."

The minister explained, "The 40-day legislative notice period is a time to listen to various opinions, and there may be shortcomings or better ideas. The Future Labor Market Research Group considered many factors when creating the plan, and sufficient opinions were gathered during the legislative notice process."

On the 6th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced and issued a legislative notice for a reform plan to expand the maximum weekly working hours from 52 to 69 hours. The unit for extended working hours was expanded beyond 'week' to include 'month, quarter, half-year, and year,' allowing work to be concentrated up to 69 hours.

Minister of Employment and Labor Lee Jeong-sik is speaking at the labor-management meeting for workplaces excelling in working hours recording and management held on the afternoon of the 15th at the Seoul Employment and Labor Office in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

As criticism grew among the MZ generation regarding the 69-hour workweek system, the Presidential Office quickly moved to calm public opinion. The day before, the Presidential Office announced, "We will set the direction after more carefully listening to the opinions of labor's vulnerable groups."

Minister Lee added, "We will accept everything without limitation in making the plan," and emphasized, "The president always stresses the health of workers."

Regarding the possibility of scrapping or reconsidering the reform plan from scratch, the minister retorted, "Is that possible?"

Minister Lee is scheduled to meet on the afternoon of the 16th with the '2030 Advisory Group,' composed of 20 members including youth aides from the Ministry of Labor. In response to criticism about excluding the two major labor unions during the opinion-gathering process, he said, "We have prepared plans to communicate sufficiently with labor and management during the legislative notice period, and labor and management are naturally expected to present official positions."