Press Conference...
"Concerns Over Workers' Health"
The Gwangju Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference on the 18th in front of the Democratic Party of Korea Gwangju Branch in Seo-gu, Gwangju, condemning the Democratic Party and advocating for the enactment of a special law to protect semiconductor workers' health. Provided by the Gwangju Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions
The Gwangju branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has called for the abolition of the 'Semiconductor Special Act,' expressing concerns over the health of semiconductor workers after the Democratic Party excluded the exemption clause for the 52-hour workweek from the bill.
On the 18th, the KCTU Gwangju branch held a press conference in front of the Gwangju City Democratic Party office in Seo-gu, Gwangju, stating, "On the 3rd, the Democratic Party held a policy debate on the Semiconductor Special Act and attempted to exclude the exemption clause for the 52-hour workweek from the bill."
The semiconductor law, proposed by lawmakers from both parties, mainly stipulates that the government will provide subsidies to semiconductor companies to strengthen the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry.
The special law failed to pass the previous day due to disagreements over whether to include an exemption from the 52-hour workweek for semiconductor research and development personnel. The Democratic Party's stance was not to include the exemption clause in the special law.
The union stated, "The history of labor is the history of reducing working hours. Through a difficult struggle, the current 40-hour workweek was introduced, and the 52-hour workweek is implemented as an exception. The reason the 52-hour workweek is exceptionally recognized is because even this amount of work is dangerous," adding, "If a worker averages 64 hours per week over four weeks, or 60 hours per week over twelve weeks, cerebrovascular or heart diseases caused by overwork are recognized as industrial accidents."
They continued, "Even if a worker is exposed to just one of the seven major risk factors, such as high physical intensity or significant mental stress, it can be recognized as an occupational disease," and lamented, "Despite this reality, even the Democratic Party, following the People Power Party, a party of national betrayal, is now discussing excluding the 52-hour workweek, which is infuriating."
Furthermore, they added, "Reducing working hours is the trend of the times, and long working hours are a regression," and urged, "The Democratic Party should stop hesitating and show responsibility as a major political party to create a safer society."
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