Samsung, First Case Allowing '6-Month Special Extended Work for Semiconductor R&D'

First Application Submitted and Approved
Industry Calls for Swift Passage of Special Law

Samsung Electronics has been recognized as the first case to receive approval for special extended working hours of up to six months for semiconductor research and development (R&D) personnel, following new government guidelines.

According to semiconductor industry and government officials on the 11th, the Gyeonggi branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor approved Samsung Electronics' application for special extended working hours on the 9th, the same day it was submitted. Samsung Electronics was the first to prepare the necessary documents after the revised guidelines took effect and completed the procedure by submitting the application along with a confirmation letter from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Four companies have recently received confirmation letters from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, among which Samsung Electronics completed the subsequent procedures the fastest.

With this approval, Samsung Electronics' R&D personnel can work up to 64 hours per week for the first three months and up to 60 hours per week for the following three months. The Ministry of Employment and Labor expects other semiconductor companies to apply for special extended working hours following this case. Currently, SK Hynix has not applied but is likely to request approval soon after internal review.

The special extended working hours system is a temporary government allowance for cases where it is unavoidable to exceed the 52-hour workweek regulation. The government revised related administrative guidelines, recognizing that autonomous extended working hours for R&D personnel are necessary to enhance the technological capabilities of domestic companies amid intensifying global semiconductor competition. Accordingly, on the 13th of last month, the Ministry of Employment and Labor introduced new guidelines extending the allowable period for special extended working hours for semiconductor R&D personnel from three months to six months.

With this guideline change, companies can apply for special extended working hours in six-month units and only need to apply for extension once per year. Previously, applications had to be made every three months, up to three times a year, with each requiring a re-examination. Now, the extension review criteria have also been simplified.

However, the industry views this system as merely a 'temporary measure.' There is growing support for the urgent passage of the 'Semiconductor Special Act' through the National Assembly, which would exempt semiconductor R&D personnel from the 52-hour workweek regulation. On the 19th of last month, Jeon Young-hyun, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics' Device Solutions (DS) Division, stated at the regular shareholders' meeting, "Even if core developers want to devote more time to research, the 52-hour workweek regulation prevents flexible adjustment of development schedules." He added, "As the process is being miniaturized faster and product competitiveness is increasing, the difficulty of development is rising," emphasizing, "Since new product development takes more time, intensive work is essential."