"Have You Run a Company?"... UK Conservative Camp Outraged Over Legislation Banning Contact After Work Hours

UK Government Legalizes 'No Contact After Work' Rule
Labour vs Conservative Party Clash Over New Labor Policies
"No Experience Running Businesses... Out of Touch with Reality" Criticism

Voices for and against the new labor-related policies are clashing within the UK.

Recently, local UK media reported that the current government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer is proposing various policies related to labor pledges ahead of the October deadline. According to the reports, the abolition of the 'zero-hour contract,' which has been criticized as 'labor exploitation' for allowing employers to assign work only when they want without setting minimum working hours, is being discussed.

Additionally, the policies are expected to include allowing maternity leave and paid sick leave from the first day of employment, as well as banning unilateral rehire after dismissal that favors employers in labor contracts. Furthermore, the Labour government announced that it will guarantee the 'right to disconnect,' which prevents employers from sending work-related emails or contacting employees after work hours or during vacations.

Keir Starmer, Leader of the UK Labour Party. Photo by Yonhap News

A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister's Office explained, "It is about ensuring workers have time to rest," adding, "Good employers understand that sometimes not paying attention is necessary for workers to maintain motivation and productivity."

Currently, UK labor regulations stipulate that the average working hours over 17 weeks should not exceed 48 hours per week, but the 'right to disconnect' is not codified. Because of this, employers sometimes continuously contact employees outside working hours, effectively using a loophole equivalent to unpaid overtime. It has been pointed out that this issue has become more serious as remote work has become widespread.

In response, reports have emerged that the Labour government is also considering allowing workers to sue employers who do not comply with the 48-hour workweek. It is also said that workers may be guaranteed the right to request employers to change the usual five-day workweek to four days, in exchange for increasing daily working hours.

However, the business community and conservative camp are strongly opposing these measures, as they aim for management freedom and maximization of productivity based on a flexible labor market. The conservative-leaning Daily Mail criticized, "There are concerns that the Labour Party is rushing to push new workers' rights without parliamentary debate or voting." Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative Party's business spokesperson, also criticized, "None of the ministers pushing these reforms have ever run a business," adding, "They know absolutely nothing about the real world in which private companies operate."