The Democratic Party of Korea, which has declared full support for the government's "three mega projects," is pushing to ease working-hour regulations (the 52-hour workweek) for research personnel in advanced industries such as semiconductors.
Rep. Jang Chul-min, secretary of the Democratic Party's "Special Committee to Support the Three Mega Projects," said at the committee's launch ceremony held at the National Assembly on the 10th, "Given that these are large-scale mega projects, we will bring to public discussion bold incentives, including a 'white-collar exemption,' and sweeping regulatory exceptions."
The white-collar exemption is a system that eases working-hour regulations for high-income, high-skilled personnel in advanced industries such as semiconductors. Companies participating in the mega projects, including Samsung Electronics and SK hynix, have continuously demanded that exceptions to the 52-hour workweek be recognized for research and development (R&D) personnel and others.
Jang said, "It is a very sensitive matter on which the labor community and civil society are bound to voice various opinions," but added, "There is no more time to hesitate in the face of a survival strategy on which the nation's future depends. We will discuss it head-on rather than avoid it."
The Democratic Party had previously opposed the introduction of the white-collar exemption during the process of enacting the special act on strengthening and supporting the competitiveness of the semiconductor industry, citing opposition from the labor community and other reasons. However, as securing national competitiveness has emerged as an urgent task, there is a mood of reviewing a change in position even on the issue of applying exceptions to the 52-hour workweek, which had been regarded as a "sacred domain" of the progressive camp.
A Democratic Party official explained, "This shows just how strong the government and ruling party's will to push this forward is," adding, "Various forums for discussion will be arranged to persuade the labor community, which has strong resistance to the 52-hour workweek exception, and to build social consensus." However, it was reported that the committee has not yet discussed the specific system design related to the white-collar exemption.
The government and the Democratic Party also plan to cooperate on customized legislation to accelerate the mega projects. Han Byung-do, acting party leader and floor leader, stressed, "We will boldly remove regulations that hold back the projects and activate a customized legislative system to support the mega projects."
