Currently, Koreans are required to work no more than 52 hours a week. — Photo: mtmphoto / Getty Images, via ETX DailyUP
Since 2018, Koreans working in public administrations or in companies with more than 300 employees can only work 52 hours a week. But there are calls to increase the legal working week in order to boost productivity in the country.
On Monday, November 4, Koh Dong-jin, former CEO of Samsung and member of the People's Power Party (PPP), submitted a draft revision of the Labor Standards Act, the law that limits Koreans' working week to 52 hours, according to the Korea Times. This initiative aims to offer greater flexibility to local residents working in research and development (R&D) in sectors such as semiconductors, displays, biotechnology and secondary batteries.
In concrete terms, these employees would not have to comply with legal provisions on maximum working hours. They could therefore work more than 52 hours a week, if necessary. "To enhance the competitiveness of Korea’s advanced industries, including chips, we need to establish a workweek system that ensures labor flexibility. This would create an environment where top talent can work freely without being constrained by limits, while also receiving appropriate compensation for their efforts," Koh Dong-jin told the Korea Times.
The bill comes just days after Samsung, South Korea's largest conglomerate, announced that its semiconductor division posted an operating profit of €2.6 billion for the third quarter of 2024 – a figure that fell short of expectations. Worried about the worsening results of some of its activities, the group's management announced in April that its senior executives would have to come to work on Saturdays or Sundays, in addition to their five weekly working days. Samsung has not officially communicated on this decision, but several managers have told local media outlets, such as the Korea Economic Daily, that this new workplace organization was currently being deployed in South Korea.
Abolishing the 52-hour work week for R&D employees would, according to the proponents of this reform project, revitalize the semiconductor industry. This is a key sector for South Korea, accounting for around 20% of its industrial activity. However, the measure has not met with unanimous approval, with some specialists fearing that it may place further strain on a working population already reputed to be stressed and overworked. — ETX DailyUp
