[News] South Korea Extends Work Hour Flexibility for Semiconductor R&D to Boost Competitiveness

Previously, there were concerns that South Korea’s legal work-hour restrictions could weaken the competitiveness of its tech industry. According to Chosun Biz, the government now plans to introduce a provision extending the special work-hour exemption for semiconductor research positions from the current 3 months to 6 months per instance

As highlighted by the report, the government plans to allow the semiconductor industry to apply the special extension work increased in authorization period per instance within a month at the earliest.

On the morning of the 12th, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced the “Supplementary Measures for the Special Extension Work Authorization System for Semiconductor Research and Development.” While the existing system allows work beyond the standard legal limit—up to 64 hours per week when necessary—the newly introduced supplementary measures specifically extend the maximum authorization period from 3 months to 6 months per instance, according to the report.

The report states that the government plans to allow employers to choose between the existing special extension work method and the new supplementary measures. Meanwhile, those opting for the supplementary measures will be required to undergo a mandatory health examination.

Additionally, the government has decided to streamline the re-evaluation criteria for special extension work authorization, as the report indicates. It will expedite the process of verifying whether the personnel needed for research and development are essential.

The government and rival parties initially discussed enacting a special bill to exempt semiconductor workers from the country’s 52-hour workweek system but were unable to reach a consensus, as indicated by Yonhap News.

As cited in Yonhap News, Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun voiced concerns about South Korea’s semiconductor industry amid fierce global competition. He highlighted that while the U.S., Japan, and Taiwan are making significant investments in their semiconductor ecosystems, China has nearly closed the gap in memory chip technology, a crucial pillar of South Korea’s economic growth.

Read more

• [News] Samsung Reportedly Brings High-NA EUV Machine to Hwaseong Campus in Early March amid 2nm Race
• [News] TSMC’s $100 Billion U.S. Investment Puts Pressure on Samsung and SK hynix’s Next Move

(Photo credit: Samsung)