홍남기 기획재정부 장관 주52시간 근무 및 최저임금제 보완책 강구할 것<br /><br />The South Korean government held a meeting with local business leaders... to outline its major economic policies for the second half of this year.<br />The main focus was on maximum working hours and the minimum wage.<br />Seo Eunkyung has the highlights from that session.<br />South Korean finance minister Hong Nam-ki told Korean business leaders on Thursday... that the government will come up with measures to successfully implement.... 52-hour maximum work weeks and higher minimum wage levels.<br />Hong added the government would strengthen its efforts... to reflect the opinions of local businesses... who have been concerned about the new work hours and wages.<br />He also said the government would set next year's minimum wage... at a reasonable and acceptable level.<br />The 52-hour maximum work week system was initially adopted in July 2018... to promote better work-life balance among Korean workers.<br />The new limit was far lower... than the previous ceiling of 68 hours.<br />For now, the system applies to businesses with more than 300 employees,... but it will also be required for small and mid-sized companies with 50 to 299 employees,... starting in January next year.<br />Meanwhile, the country's mimimum wage has soared 29 percent over the past two years,... from roughly 5-point-5 U.S dollars per hour to 7-point-1 dollars.<br />There have been concerns among small businesses... that the wage hike could add significantly to their labor cost burden.<br />A survey conducted by the Korea Federation of SMEs in May showed... that 69 percent of local firms were in favor of freezing the minimum wage... for next year.<br />Minister Hong also added that the government would ease regulations on small businesses... and provide them with various tax benefits.<br />Seo Eunkyung, Arirang News.<br />
