South Korea’s government has been forced to rethink a planned rise in working hours after a backlash from younger people who said the move would destroy their work-life balance and put their health at risk.
The government had intended to raise the maximum weekly working time to 69 hours after business groups complained that the current cap of 52 hours was making it difficult to meet deadlines.
Yoon, a conservative who is seen as pro-business, had supported the raise to give employers greater flexibility.
Union leaders, however, had said it would force people to work longer hours, in a country already known for its punishing workplace culture.
There is no regard for workers’ health or rest,” the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions said in a statement.
“We’ll introduce bold measures to help cut working hours during pregnancy or while raising children,” Lee said last week, when asked if the raise would help alleviate the fertility crisis.
Women’s groups, however, said that the measure would hurt working mothers and other women. »
