Labor, Management Different Opinions on Five-day Working Week

The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), which are negotiating on 5-day working week, began a strength contest before a last negotiation. The FKTU urged yesterday `a full-scale introduction of the system from January`, while the KEF insisted on `a gradual introduction starting from 2003`.

FKTU chairman Lee Nam-Soon said yesterday at a press conference, ``No matter what happens, the 5-day working week system must start from January after passing the legislation process to avoid a downfall in salary and working condition.`` ``The government should declare an immediate introduction of the system for government employees and teachers from January.``, he added.

Regarding the major issues, the FKTU demanded, to introduce the system for small-sized firms from next year with a supporting plan, to make up salary loss based on a law, due to shortened labor hours, to give 22 days of paid leave per year and extra days, 1 day-per-year with maximum 30 days according to a worker`s length of service, and to maintain current menstruation leave, flexible working hours, limit on overtime working hours.

Not only is this much different from the business circle`s opinion that calls for softening of the overtime hour limit, but also there is a significant difference from the opinion of the Korean Tripartite Commission (KTC), which demanded, to introduce the system gradually from next July; 18 days of paid leave with a maximum 22 day limit, and unpaid menstruation leave, and 1 year extension on the flexible working hour unit.

Meanwhile, vice-chairman of the KEF Cho Nam-Hong said yesterday at the breakfast meeting with labor minister Kim Ho-Jin, ``It has to begin from 2003, and there should be more preparatory time for small-sized firms. And the government should guarantee a support for the small firms such as tax benefit.`` ``To reduce the impact of the 5-day working week system, an international standard has to be applied on issues such as number of holidays.``

Minister Kim said, ``The 5-day working week system is needed, not only to improve the quality of life for workers, but also to maintain the business competitiveness.`` ``The government will prudently decide when to start the system considering the difficult situation of small-sized businesses.``

The KTC will hold a meeting on 5th to adjust opinions among the public benefit committee, the labor side, and the management side. And it will hold another meeting before 15th, the deadline asked by the Ministry of Labor, for a last negotiation. For this reason, the FKTU will have a national meeting for union leaders and an emergency council member meeting from 11th to 15th to prepare a final negotiation terms.

Kim Joon-Seok kjs359@donga.com