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By Nam Hyun-woo
Laboratories and other R&D facilities are facing growing concerns as they have been required to abide by the country's 52-hour workweek since July 1, according to industrial analysts, Friday.
The analysts said they agree with the reasons for the 52-hour cap, but R&D requires a flexible work schedule. If researchers are forced to work no more than 52 hours a week, this may lead to producing "incomplete results due to time constraints."
According to the Korea Industrial Technology Association (KOITA), a group of 67,000 technology-centric firms and labs, it has demanded the government exclude technology institutions and companies R&D departments from the working hours rule, after gathering its members' opinions.
In its demand, delivered to the government on Friday, KOITA said R&D related occupations should either be excluded from the rule or expand the unit period of flexible work hours to up to one year.
Currently, businesses can adjust working hours so that employees can work longer during busy periods and fewer hours when things are slower, as long as it does not exceed an average of 52 hours a week over a three-month period. KOITA demands this period to be extended up to one year.
"When we look into data from businesses, the field of R&D requires concentration and continuity on an assignment," KOITA said in a statement. "Also, labs and technology institutions have difficulties in substituting workers."
The statutory workweek cap took effect in July last year, but labs and institutions were given a one-year grace period. Currently, labs and institutions with more than 300 employees are subject to the cap, and smaller labs will follow in coming years.
KOITA said nearly 40,000 businesses have their own research labs and technology institutions and the rule will slow them down in competitions with global rivals.
"We agree with the reason for the 52-hour workweek," said an official at an auto parts company with its own research center. "In labs, however, a certain project requires long observations or other concentrated efforts. The government should have been more flexible in selecting excluded industries."
Currently, workers in land maritime and air transportation, service providers for them and medical workers are exempted from the rule. Businesses including bus firms, broadcasting networks, universities and others have demanded the government exclude them from the regulation, but the labor ministry believes they will be able to adapt to the rule without difficulties.
"Another problem in this system is the outcome of project is required to be the same while researchers are given a shorter time to work," a researcher at a state-funded institution said.
"This means institutions should hire more, but the budget is remaining the same and it is difficult to hire talented researchers. It is worrisome that the country's competitiveness in advanced technology will lag behind its rivals."
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