Minister of Labor "will help with exceptions of 52 hours a week for semiconductor business"...a backlash from the labor community

The Ministry of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo said it will actively help enact the "Special Act on Semiconductors," which includes exceptions to the 52-hour workweek.

Minister Kim made the remarks yesterday (28th) at a meeting hosted by the Semiconductor Association at Samsung Electronics' Pyeongtaek plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

He also mentioned that if semiconductor R&D developers agree with each other on expanding working hours choices, protecting health, and sufficient compensation, they will be able to find a way out.

However, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions protested that the anachronistic solution of working long hours would further reduce Korea's semiconductor competitiveness.

He also pointed out that the enactment of a special semiconductor law is an anti-labor act that ignores workers' overwork and occupational diseases and threatens workers' health, safety, and basic labor rights.