Gokul Thokar

South Korea, one of Nepal’s key labour destinations, has decided to allow people to work longer overtime hours in exchange for time off.

The South Korean government on Monday made public its plans to allow the companies to employ the workers for longer hours—extending from 52 hours a week to 69 hours a week.

The government plans to submit a revision bill to the National Assembly in June or July after a 40-day legislative notice period from Monday to April 17, according to reports.

This will allow workers to bank overtime hours that can be exchanged for time off.

This aims to promote productivity and allow for more flexibility in the labour market.

In 2018, the South Korean Labor Standards Act was amended to restrict an employee's maximum work hours from 68 hours to 52 hours per week.

Though big companies implemented the provision the same year, most of the companies started following the rule only in 2021.

At times of increased workload, the companies will now be allowed to employ workers for 13 hours a day and 69 hours a week at most.

As per the new plans, the companies will be allowed to manage the overtime of workers on a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly as well as yearly basis besides a weekly one.

The new standards, however, have made it mandatory for an 11-hour long rest period for workers between the two consecutive shifts.

While the opposition parties and one of the major trade unions in the country have criticised the decision saying it only favours the employers, the Korea Enterprises Federation, an organisation of employers, has welcomed the decision.

“The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of two major labour unions in Korea, said it opposed the plan because it will see even longer work hours than before,” according to The Korea Herald.

“The union noted that it is only favourable to the part of the plan that permits workers to manage their working hours.”

The trade unions in South Korea have long been criticising the workload. They have demanded that there must be an agreement on the management of workload between employers and workers.

Around 80,000 Nepalis went to South Korea under the Employment Permit System from 2008 to mid-November 2022, according to government data.

Published on: 7 March 2023 | The Kathmandu Post