"Guaranteeing Rest Rights for All Workers"…Promoting Mandatory Sunday Off Law

Democratic Party Euljiro Committee Pushes for Revision of Labor Standards Act
Abolition of Substitute Holiday System and Mandatory Sunday Off
Weekend Operations of Department Stores, Shopping Malls, and Hotels Unavoidably Impacted

Legislation guaranteeing weekend rest for all workers is being promoted. Following the mandatory holiday closures of large supermarkets, weekend operations may also become difficult, delivering a direct blow to the distribution industry.

On the 30th, according to political circles, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yong-woo and Progressive Party lawmaker Jung Hye-kyung have prepared a revision of the Labor Standards Act that abolishes substitute holidays and mandates Sunday rest, and plan to propose it as early as next month.

Previously, the National Legislative Center proposed an amendment to the Labor Standards Act that includes designating industries that must work on weekends, guaranteeing workers who work on weekends at least one continuous weekend off per month (at least 16 times a year), abolishing substitute holidays and mandating Sunday rest, and paying additional allowances to all workers who work on weekends.

A representative from Rep. Jung’s office said, "The three lawmakers’ offices plan to enter discussions for legislation regarding the contents proposed by the National Legislative Center," adding, "At the forum scheduled for the 10th of next month, we expect to gather opinions from various sectors and also disclose the contents of the amendment."

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Service Federation and the Democratic Party’s Euljiro Committee (Euljiro People’s Livelihood Practice Committee) held a forum titled 'Labor Laws Needed for People Working on Sundays' at the National Assembly on the 25th to discuss the direction of the amendment. Lee Jung-hee, head of the National Legislative Center, said at the event, "The Labor Standards Act should be amended to guarantee holidays for all working people," and added, "We have even prepared an amendment to abolish substitute holidays, mandate Sunday rest, and pay additional allowances to all workers who work on weekends." This means guaranteeing weekend rest rights not only for the distribution industry, which has many weekend shifts, but for all workers.

So far, labor groups have argued that the Labor Standards Act should be amended alongside the Distribution Industry Act, which enforces mandatory Sunday holidays for large supermarkets. A Service Federation official said, "While preparing the amendment to the Distribution Act, there was much internal opinion that ultimately the weekend rest rights of all workers, beyond just distribution workers, should be guaranteed," adding, "To improve this, an amendment to the Labor Standards Act is necessary, so we prepared such a proposal."

If the amendment to the Labor Standards Act passes, it could have a huge impact not only on the distribution industry but across all industrial sectors. In particular, weekend operations at large supermarkets, department stores, agricultural and marine product marts, as well as duty-free shops and complex shopping malls, will be disrupted. Industries that operate 24 hours, such as hotels and resorts, will also inevitably be affected. According to the amendment, since additional allowances must be paid for weekend work, service costs are expected to rise significantly. A distribution industry official said, "Currently, industries operating on weekends face a situation where giving up weekend operations would lead to consumer backlash and business failure," adding, "If weekend operations continue, labor and service costs will be reflected in prices, worsening inflation."