By Park Ji-won
A conflict between the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and umbrella unions over expanding a flexible work hour system is intensifying.
The unions and the minor liberal Justice Party have opposed the move, as it possibly risks workers' health and is against the 52-hour maximum workweek required by law.
Justice Party Chairwoman Rep. Lee Jeong-mi said Monday, “The government and four ruling and opposition parties are expanding flexible working hours by pressuring unions even though they know it could risk workers' health rights and the meaning of a weekly maximum of 52 hours per week (which is stipulated in the labor law.)”
Lee insisted the system would enable companies to make people work for 64 hours per week for six weeks in a row.
Under the current flexible work hour system, employers can add or reduce the working hours of employees for a three-month period increase in one year. The measure is aimed at lessening the burden of companies in the wake of the introduction of the revised labor law that orders people to work less than an average of 52 hours in one week.
The Korean Federation of Trade Unions (KFTU) Chairman Kim Myeong-hwan also criticized DPK floor leader Hong Young-pyo saying he first came up with reducing working hours and he is now showing an oppressive attitude toward workers, making things worse.
“Union workers I met in the field express worries over the governmental labor policies. If the Assembly passes the expansion bill, it is going back to square one and will be the start of extreme confrontation,” Kim Ju-young, chairman of the Federation of Korean Trade Union (FKTU), told reporters at the Assembly Monday.
The move came after the DPK and main opposition parties, except the progressive Justice Party, agreed on expanding the three-month period to a maximum of six months on Nov. 5.
Amid a sluggish economy, the DPK has been focusing on supporting the government economic policy that includes the expansion of working hours in response to companies' requests to ease the job market so they can add more jobs.
However, working circles are criticizing them for being ignorant of labor issues, citing the Moon administration and ruling party have been claiming to be friendly with labor forces.
Unions are going all-out to stop the plan.
The FKTU held a street rally in front of the National Assembly, Saturday, to protest the government plan, denouncing it as an “anti-labor” policy.
The KFTU pledged to hold a rally on Wednesday, calling for the suspension of the measure asking for a face-to-face meeting with President Moon Jae-in.
Upon the decision, the DPK is stepping up criticism of the labor forces.
Hong, who previously worked as an executive for a union of the KFTU, criticized the organization saying “We cannot communicate with each other as they are violent and unilateral.”