Kim Sohee Proposes Amendment for Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Annual, and Annual Extended Working Hours

"Mandatory Measures to Protect Workers' Health"

On June 20, Kim Sohee, a member of the People Power Party, proposed an amendment to the Labor Standards Act that would introduce extension of working hours on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual basis, while making it mandatory for employers to implement measures to protect workers' health.

The current Labor Standards Act stipulates that weekly working hours may not exceed 40 hours. The so-called 52-hour workweek system was introduced, allowing working hours to be extended by up to 12 hours per week with mutual agreement between the parties.

There have been calls for the system to be improved so that working hours can be used more flexibly and diversely, both to respond to global competition in advanced industries and to meet workers' needs.

Kim Sohee, member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Sohee's office

In practice, the United States exempts certain occupational groups above a certain income level from working hour regulations, and Japan operates a similar system for research and development jobs.

In response, Kim previously proposed an amendment to the Labor Standards Act that would introduce exceptions to the 52-hour workweek system for research and development positions and high-income professionals. Under this proposal, those engaged in research and development work, such as new products or new technologies, or those earning more than an amount specified by presidential decree, would be exempt from current regulations regarding working hours, breaks, and holidays.

In addition, the amendment would extend the maximum period for the use of flexible and selective working hour systems to one year, and allow labor and management to choose the calculation period for extended work not only on a weekly basis but also on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis.

Alongside these changes, the amendment also establishes employers' obligations to protect workers' health, such as mandatory worker interviews, limits on the number of night shifts, a minimum consecutive rest period, provision of compensatory or special leave, and health checkups.

Kim stated, "If we ignore the voices from the field responding to global competition in advanced industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, our companies' competitiveness will decline and, as a result, the number of quality jobs will decrease." She added, "In an era of global competition where individual workers have greater autonomy in the allocation of working hours and work methods, it is essential to improve working hour regulations in a rational way so that companies can respond effectively."