경영계 "탄력근로제 확대 합의 다행…기업에 도움될 것"...민주노총 "합의 개악"<br /><br />South Korea's putting into place tighter limits on the number of hours companies can make their employees work each week.<br />There have been complaints, though, that the cap on hours is too strict for some of them.<br />Yesterday, labor, management and government reached an agreement to give companies more flexibility.<br />The reaction has been mixed, as our Ko Roon-hee reports. <br />It's a new move for South Korea to successfully implement the shortened 52-hour cap on weekly working hours.<br />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. <br />Specific changes include expanding the application period.<br />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. <br />This is beneficial for businesses with peak seasons that last longer than three months. <br />Korea's business community has welcomed the news.<br />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.<br />The Korea Federation of SMEs said they are relieved to see the agreement,... but emphasized the importance of taking further steps.<br />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.<br />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.<br /> However, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions criticized the agreement...saying it does not include clear measures to protect workers' wages.<br />Ko Roon-hee, Arirang News.
