[Editorial] The Gen MZ factor in workweek revamp

The labor ministry will have to devise a more engaging version in order to gain support from the younger generation and persuade the opposition camp in the National Assembly.

President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered more work on the government outline on amending the statutory 52-hour workweek. He commanded the government for reflecting “various voices of workers, especially the MZ generation,” which refers to a pairing of two groups: millennials born between 1981 and 1995 and Gen Z born between 1996 and 2005.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Employment and Labor proposed flexibility in the 52-hour statutory workweek framework (basic 40 hours and 12 hours in overtime) by allowing a maximum 69-hour workweek during peak season in exchange for shorter workdays and a longer break in compensation during the slow season for companies.

Extended work hours can be set in a monthly, quarterly, six-month, or annual basis instead of weekly terms under the current outline. While allowing 64 to 69 hours of work a week upon an agreement between employers and workers, the government proposed to widen the work hour terms to enable a four-day workweek.

The 52-hour workweek was pushed by former President Moon Jae-in in 2018 to lessen overwork and raise the quality of life for workers. The shortened hours helped ease the notorious overwork and habitual overtime at large companies in Korea.

But the new rigid work hours caused some serious side effects. Workers at smaller companies saw their meager income become even smaller because they could not work overtime. Small companies also could not keep up with work during their peak season. Start-ups that need employees to work long hours in the initial stages were frustrated with the rigid work rule.

The direction of the new outline is right as it allows greater flexibility. But the government outline treated the recommendation for an 11-hour mandatory rest after overtime by the expert group Future Labor Market Research Council as an option, not an obligation.

Workers complain that the government proposal overly reflects the opinions of employers. The younger generation complain that the idea of lengthy vacationing to make up for the longer hours is just unrealistic. A new union group comprised of younger workers opposes the work hour management on a longer basis than the current weekly basis, as it goes against the global trend of less work and long vacation. The Democratic Party that commands a majority at the legislature voiced clear opposition to the new outline.

The labor ministry plans to hear wider voices until April 16 and come up with an amended version. It will have to devise a more engaging version in order to gain support from the younger generation and persuade the opposition camp in the National Assembly.