경영계 "탄력근로제 확대 합의 다행…기업에 도움될 것"...민주노총 "합의 개악"
South Korea's putting into place tighter limits on the number of hours companies can make their employees work each week.
There have been complaints, though, that the cap on hours is too strict for some of them.
Yesterday, labor, management and government reached an agreement to give companies more flexibility.
The reaction has been mixed, as our Ko Roon-hee reports.
It's a new move for South Korea to successfully implement the shortened 52-hour cap on weekly working hours.
The Economic, Social and Labor Council announced on Tuesday...that representatives from labor, management and government reached an agreement to revise the flexible work hours system.
Specific changes include expanding the application period.
For companies that can't meet the working hour limit every week, the new change will allow them spread the hours over a period of six-months, up from the current three-months.
This is beneficial for businesses with peak seasons that last longer than three months.
Korea's business community has welcomed the news.
The Korea Employers Federation said it was glad to see a social consensus and believed the move will improve the business environment in the nation.
The Korea Federation of SMEs said they are relieved to see the agreement,... but emphasized the importance of taking further steps.
The outcome of the discussion will be used by the National Assembly to amend related legislation...and the federation said it's important to move quickly.
Other organizations, such as Korea Economic Research Institute, said the agreement is expected to encourage further conversations between labor and management...but added the six-month period is still short compared to other advanced countries.
However, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions criticized the agreement...saying it does not include clear measures to protect workers' wages.
Ko Roon-hee, Arirang News.
