The government will establish a provision that allows for a special extension of working hours for semiconductor research positions to be increased from the current 3 months to 6 months per instance. Employers are required to provide mandatory health check-ups for workers who worked under this arrangement every 6 months.
Initially, the government and the ruling party had been pushing for the enactment of the 'Special Law for Semiconductors,' which would contain provisions exempting the semiconductor industry from the 52-hour work week. However, faced with opposition from the opposition party and the labor sector that hampered the legislative process, they proposed a plan to extend the special working period per instance.
On the morning of the 12th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the 'Supplementary Measures for the Special Extension Work Authorization System for Semiconductor Research and Development' at the meeting of relevant ministers on national affairs, economy, and industrial competitiveness.
The special extension work system allows for work beyond the legal extended hours up to 64 hours a week if necessary. Applications can be made for reasons such as research and development. The maximum authorization period per instance is 3 months, and it can be extended up to 3 times for a total of 12 months.
The supplementary measures announced by the government on this day aim to increase the maximum authorization period by an additional 3 months to 6 months. In this case, the first 3 months can involve working 64 hours a week, and the remaining 3 months can involve working 60 hours a week. This method allows for an additional 6 months to be used once more.
The government plans to allow employers to choose between the existing special extension work method and the supplementary measures. If the supplementary measures are selected, employers are required to provide mandatory health check-ups for special extension workers.
Additionally, the government has decided to simplify the re-examination criteria for special extension work authorization. They will quickly confirm whether the personnel required for research and development work is necessary. However, just like before, they plan to thoroughly review the reasons for authorization, as well as the authorization period and hours.
The government plans to enable the semiconductor industry to utilize the special extension work increased in authorization period per instance within a month at the earliest. In this regard, Minister Kim Moon-soo met with reporters on the 11th and noted, "Legislation can take a long time, but administrative measures do not take long," adding, "It may take less than a month." The intent is to expand the special extension work system through guidelines from the Ministry of Employment and Labor without amending the regulations.