Amendment to Labor Standards Act: Excluding R&D Workers in High-Tech Industries from 52-Hour Workweek Regulation

National Assembly member Ko Dong-jin, a member of the Trade, Industry, Energy, Small and Medium Venture Business Committee, has submitted a ‘Labor Standards Act amendment bill’ to the National Assembly. The proposed amendment aims to exclude workers in research and development (R&D) roles in national high-tech strategic industries, such as semiconductors, displays, bio, and secondary batteries, from the 52-hour workweek regulation.

The amendment seeks to allow working hours for R&D workers in these industries to be determined separately, in accordance with procedures and standards set by Presidential Decree. This move is intended to enhance the competitiveness of Korea’s high-tech industries, which are critical to the country’s economic growth and development.

Rep. Ko Dong-jin emphasized the need for a flexible work system that allows top talent to work without being restricted by working hours. He stated, “A uniform and standardized working hour system can reduce R&D productivity and make it difficult to respond quickly to the global market environment. We need to create a work system that guarantees work flexibility and provides an environment where top talent can work to their heart’s content without being restricted by working hours, and provides sufficient compensation accordingly.”