A tripartite committee has been launched to reduce working hours in South Korea to the level of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that the roadmap task force for reducing working hours, involving labor, management, and government, held its first meeting today (the 24th).
Representatives from the business sector, including the Korea Employers Federation and the Korea Federation of SMEs, as well as labor groups such as the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, attended today’s meeting.
The task force aims to lower South Korea’s working hours, which were 1,859 hours last year, to the OECD average of 1,708 hours. Plans to improve legal systems, enhance labor productivity, and increase employment rates are set to be discussed.
Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon stated that better results and increased corporate competitiveness could be achieved when workers have sovereignty over their time and can work flexibly. He also mentioned that labor inspections would be strengthened, and tailored support for small businesses provided.
The task force is scheduled to conduct various discussions, including on-site meetings and public forums, over the next three months before unveiling the roadmap for reducing working hours.
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