건강 갉아먹는 ‘야간노동’ 노동자 보호 법제화할까

A proposed law amendment to limit night work to 12 times a month is gaining attention as measures for protecting the health of night workers are being standardized. The Ministry of Employment and Labor is reviewing detailed measures to establish a system for protecting night workers' health, aiming to set specific limits on maximum night work hours, frequency, and rest periods.

The ministry recently conducted a survey on the scale and types of night work by industry and job category, as well as a review of international cases, to develop "measures for protecting the health of night workers." This initiative is part of the "Implementation Monitoring Panel for Reducing Night Work Hours," which was established in December last year through a meeting with night workers from the healthcare, childcare, logistics, and delivery sectors.

The panel emphasized the need to define "night work" and set appropriate limits on maximum hours, frequency, and rest periods based on industry-specific work conditions. The proposed law amendment, introduced by the ruling Democratic Party's lawmaker Park Hoh-bae, defines 'night work' as any work performed between sunset and 5 a.m., with a daily maximum of 10 hours and a monthly maximum of 12 times.

After completing night work, workers must be given a minimum of 11 hours of continuous rest, with a maximum of three consecutive nights of night work and a monthly limit of 12 times. While some countries, such as France, Spain, and Germany, have banned night work exceeding 8 hours, recent discussions on allowing late-night delivery in the retail industry have raised concerns about the potential increase in night work and the need for comprehensive protection measures.

Panel members expressed concern that political instability and the focus on economic growth could jeopardize the implementation of night work protection measures.