Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, announced a pledge aimed at capturing the votes of office workers. The plan is to provide benefits to corporations that adopt a 4.5-day work week and ultimately transition to a 4-day work week. He also stated that the government will prepare measures to support office workers' vacations, rent, living expenses, and education costs.
◇"Achieving a balance between sustainable work and life"
The candidate noted on Facebook on the 30th that with the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), simple and repetitive tasks will be taken over by machines, allowing people to focus more on work that creates creativity and added value. He emphasized that to elevate the value of people in the new era, sufficient rest and recharging is essential.
The pledges for office workers include support for corporations adopting a 4.5-day work week, a long-term goal of transitioning to a 4-day work week, a review of the total wage system, improvements to the vacation system, a three-pronged support for national vacations (worker vacation support system, regional love vacation support system, shortcut travel), expansion of lease money loan guarantees and improvements to the guarantee system, expansion of tax credits for monthly rent, raising the credit card deduction limit, and expansion of tax credits for children.
The candidate stated that he will set a cap on daily working hours and introduce a minimum rest time system to prevent overwork-related deaths, adding that he will establish legislation titled 'Law on Prevention of Overwork Death and Support for Reduction of Working Hours' and impose an obligation on the state and others to establish effective measures to prevent overwork-related deaths.
He also emphasized that during the review process of the total wage system, measures will be thoroughly implemented to ensure that existing wages and working conditions do not worsen, stating that employers will be required to measure and record the actual working hours of employees.
◇"Lee cares for wage earners, saying 'I'll reduce the burden of daily life'"
The candidate presented pledges to protect the daily lives of office workers. The Democratic Party launched a special committee, the 'salary defense team,' in December of last year to prepare legislation related to office workers. The Chairperson of the salary defense team is Commissioner Han Jeong-ae, and the secretary is Commissioner Lim Gwang-hyun. The salary defense team was incorporated under the 'well-being committee' of the election campaign committee established that day.
Among the pledges announced that day, there was a proposal to include arts and sports institutes, which effectively fulfill childcare functions, in the special tax credit for education expenses, all proactively reviewed by the salary defense team.
Additionally, he announced pledges for tax credits for communication expenses for workers themselves and for minor children as well as aged parents over 65, as well as the establishment of a youth and national pass to reduce transportation costs.
The candidate emphasized that ongoing excessive overtime, excessive work stress, and always insufficient rest are exhausting the lives of office workers, stating, "A life where those who have worked hard can enjoy sufficient rest and leisure, with an economic foundation to make that possible, a life that promises a better tomorrow, that 'real Republic of Korea' will be created by Lee Jae-myung."