Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) said on the 5th, regarding the discussion on easing the 52-hour workweek in the Honam-region semiconductor mega-special zone, "Aren't (semiconductor corporations) making enormous profits even now?" The point was that they delivered their biggest results ever even while the 52-hour workweek was in place.
The Minister said at a briefing with the press corps held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 5th, "When we were making the Special Act on Semiconductors (Special Act on Strengthening Competitiveness and Supporting the Semiconductor Industry), there was talk that easing the 52-hour workweek had to be included, but aren't (semiconductor corporations) doing extremely well now?" The Minister added, "It is entirely possible to say we should be flexible (with the 52-hour workweek) in some research situations," but also noted, "If things become too excessive as if (the clause easing the 52-hour workweek) cannot be omitted, it makes healthy debate difficult."
The Minister also said he would meet with the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). The two umbrella unions released a joint statement saying, "Under the Lee Jae-myung administration, which we take pride in for having prevented insurrection and restored democracy, we again face the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's regressive labor policy, and we cannot hide our bewilderment and anger." The Minister said, "The government policy has not been finalized."
The Minister said he would also review a minimum remuneration system that guarantees a minimum income for contract-based workers such as delivery drivers. Last month, the Minimum Wage Commission under the ministry set next year's minimum wage at 10,700 won, while excluding contract-based workers from those covered. The Minister said, "We will draft a plan for the minimum remuneration system by year's end." The plan is expected to include methods for calculating an appropriate minimum remuneration for contract-based workers equivalent to the minimum wage.