중소기업도 내년 1월부터 주 52시간제…계도기간 연장 없다<br /><br />Small and medium-sized companies in South Korea will have to implement the shortened 52-hour workweek system from January as scheduled.<br />South Korea's Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap announced on Monday that the one-year grace period given to businesses hiring 50 to 2-hundred-99 employees, will not be extended after it ends this year.<br />This affects more than 24-thousand small firms.<br />Those who do not abide by the rules may face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 18-thousand U.S. dollars.<br />However, business owners will be given four months to adopt the new system after the violation is first reported.<br />SMEs had already requested an extension because of the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />
