Umbrella union to join gov't-proposed talks amid push to roll back some labor rules

Seoul, September 17 - The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the largest labor groups in South Korea, announced Thursday that it will join a government-proposed social dialogue on issues related to an envisaged special bill. This bill aims to roll back certain labor rules, including the 52-hour workweek limit prevalent in major semiconductor production facilities.

The decision was made during a meeting of the KCTU's central executive committee. KCTU emphasized the necessity of participating in the dialogue to openly oppose the expansion of labor exemptions and to safeguard labor rights. The labor union's decision to join the dialogue marks its first return to three-way labor negotiations with the government and employers in six years, following its involvement during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020.

The government's proposal, spearheaded by Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon, intends to initiate a social dialogue to address the megacluster bill, which the ruling party and the government wish to enact by the end of the month. The legislation may allow managers and high-income earners in the top 3 percent from the 52-hour workweek limit, as well as provisions for overtime, night, and holiday work allowances.

The 52-hour workweek law was introduced in 2018 to prevent overwork. Additionally, the government is contemplating extending the timeframe for the selective working hour system from its current one-month basis to six months within the special megaclusters. The selective working hour system permits employees to work intensively over a particular period, provided their total working hours do not surpass the limit during the basis period.

However, both the KCTU and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), the two principal umbrella labor unions, have vehemently criticized these proposals. They label them as anti-labor policies and assert their intention to obstruct the proposed legislation.