In a move with potentially significant implications for both productivity and employee well-being, South Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labor is overhauling the country’s labor regulations, ushering in a new era of reduced working hours and enhanced flexibility. Effective this year, the sweeping reforms will see the implementation of a 4.5-day workweek, reducing the maximum weekly work time from 52 hours to 48 – with no cuts in pay.
This ambitious plan, according to local reports, is part of a broader government strategy to bring South Korea’s notoriously long working hours in line with OECD standards. The ultimate goal? To slash the average annual working hours from the 2024 baseline of 1,859 to below the OECD average of 1,717 hours by 2030.
The legislation goes beyond simple time reductions. To further facilitate the shift towards a more balanced work-life dynamic, the government is also focusing on improving its annual leave and flexible working practices. Specifically, between the end of 2025 and 2026, eligibility for annual leave will be expanded. Employees will now be able to earn leave after six months of employment, down from the previous one-year requirement. The program will also include leave savings and a system for taking leave by the hour. Further, discriminatory treatment of employees on leave will be prohibited.
The new measures introduce a framework for flexible working arrangements. Legislation will establish “the right to request flexible work,” allowing employees to request adjusted schedules under certain conditions; employers will be required to accommodate these requests unless they have a valid reason for refusal. This opens the door to remote work, staggered work hours, and other alternative work models. The government is also exploring financial and administrative incentives to encourage companies to adopt these strategies.
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