KEA Argues Reduction in Actual Working Hours
On May 23, officials of the Korea Employers竊� Association held a conference with the executives in charge of human resources and labor relations of the top 30 business groups at the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul.
Source : Joongang Ilbo
On May 23, officials of the Korea Employers＇ Association held a conference with the executives in charge of human resources and labor relations of the top 30 business groups at the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul. At the meeting the Korea Employers＇ Association insisted that, ＂it is important to reduce the actual working hours rather than the legal working hours in order to improve the quality of life of workers.＂
The Korea Employers＇ Association proposed that the government lower the extra pay rate for extended working hours, night work and holiday work from the current 150 percent. The KEA suggested a revision of the work-hour administration system on annual and monthly holidays and vacation. The KEA also made a proposal to enlarge the flexitime employment system.
Kim Yong-bae, a director of the Korea Employers＇ Association, commenting on the recommendations said, ＂it is more appropriate that workers completely use up their holidays and vacations rather than decreasing the statutory work-hour from the current 44 hours a week to 40 hours a week. By observing all the holidays and vacations, the actual working hours will be reduced to less than 40 hours a week.＂
Kim added that, ＂the current legal working hour is equal to the average among industrialized countries, and is definitely not too long. From now on, we will recommend to our 60,000 member companies throughout the nation to ensure that workers observe all legal holidays and vacations.＂
The Korea Employers＇ Association insisted that the reduction of the statutory working hour would occur far too early and, under the current economic conditions, would increase the wage burden on companies. Currently, worker holidays and vacation consist of 12 monthly holidays, 10 annual holidays and additional holidays, which are provided to the employee after two to three years of continuous employment by the addition of one day per every additional year. For example, an employee with a 15-year tenure at the same company would be eligible for 36 vacation days per year.
Labor unions reacted coolly to the proposals set forth by the KEA, saying only that the KEA＇s proposals are certainly an improvement from their earlier absolute disapproval of any attempt to reduce working hours. However, the labor sector again insisted that the reduction of the legal work-hour is the only way to reduce actual working hours.
The Korea Employers＇ Association also urged labor unions to withdraw their decision to hold a full-scale strike, scheduled for the end of May, since it may affect the nation’s credit rating.
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