Lee So-young, the candidate for Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, stated during a National Assembly confirmation hearing on September 15 that there is a need to ease labor regulations regarding the 52-hour workweek and the comprehensive wage system.
Lee remarked that the current penalty of up to two years in prison for violating the 52-hour workweek does not align with today’s diverse work structures. She noted that unlike traditional factory jobs, knowledge work is often evaluated based on outcomes rather than hours worked.
However, she acknowledged the necessity of reducing working hours, citing the long working hours in South Korea and the high incidence of overwork-related deaths, emphasizing the importance of worker health.
Regarding the comprehensive wage system, Lee expressed the need for flexibility, stating that companies should be granted a degree of autonomy and flexibility concerning labor and wage regulations. She also indicated that there could be concerns about fully restricting the comprehensive wage system.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Lee emphasized the importance of ensuring that self-employed individuals do not suffer from health issues or insecurity and can benefit from social safety nets. She pledged to expand support for health care costs and enhance coverage for industrial accident insurance and employment insurance for self-employed workers.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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