Politics · South Korea · 5 hrs ago
South Korea's special-zone bill faces delays over working-hour rules
South Korea's government has promised to pass a bill for special zones tied to major regional projects by the end of the year.
The bill includes proposed exceptions to the 52-hour weekly work limit, but lawmakers have not resolved disagreements over those rules.
Parliament approved a resolution to create a committee to discuss the bill on November 5, but the committee had still not been formed by November 12.
The ruling party says it wants the bill passed this year, while opposition lawmakers did not take part in the vote on the committee resolution.
That delay makes passage by year-end uncertain, and debate could continue until the committee's term ends on January 31.
Separate plans for a Gwangju military airport relocation and a national industrial complex are also moving slowly, with the airport-related bill still before a parliamentary committee and the industrial-site designation delayed.
South Korea’s proposed special-zone bill is facing delays, making passage by the end of the year uncertain.
Disagreements over labor provisions, including an exception to the 52-hour workweek, remain unresolved.
A parliamentary special committee to discuss the bill had not been fully formed as of Nov. 12.
The committee is set to include 18 members and can operate until Jan. 31 next year.
Related plans for a military airport relocation and national industrial complex designation are also moving slowly.
- Who
- South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties are involved in the bill’s discussion.
- What
- A bill on special zones faces delays amid disagreements over labor provisions, including a possible 52-hour workweek exception.
- When
- As of Nov. 12, the parliamentary special committee had not been fully formed. The ruling party has said it wants the bill passed by the end of the year.
- Where
- South Korea’s National Assembly.
- Why
- Disagreements over labor provisions and delays in forming the committee have slowed discussion.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon briefed on a proposal for social dialogue concerning the special-zone bill.
The National Assembly passed a resolution to form a special committee to discuss the bill, while the People Power Party abstained from the vote.
Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said the party would seek passage of the bill by the end of the year.
The special committee had still not been fully formed, and prospects for passage within the year were described as uncertain.
- Special committee
- 18 members: 10 Democratic Party, 6 People Power Party and 2 from non-negotiating groups
- Committee deadline
- Jan. 31 next year
- Labor issue
- Proposed exception to South Korea’s 52-hour workweek
- Related project
- A 4,755-trillion-won mega-project
- Military airport target
- The Defense Ministry aims to select a relocation site within the year and complete a replacement airport by 2032
What people are saying
We will gather opinions from all sectors and ensure the special-zone bill passes within the year.
The 52-hour workweek labor exception is an issue that requires calm discussion over time, as Employment and Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon has also stressed that a solution should be found through social dialogue.