Seoul: Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon on Tuesday proposed a "one-point social dialogue" to discuss contentious issues surrounding an envisioned special bill that would significantly relax labor regulations, including the 52-hour workweek limit, in mega-scale semiconductor clusters.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the government aims to introduce the so-called mega cluster bill by the end of this month. This proposal may include a plan to exempt managers and researchers in the top 3 percent of income earners from the 52-hour workweek limit, as well as from overtime, night, and holiday work allowances. The nation's 52-hour workweek law was initially introduced in 2018 to prevent overwork.

In addition to these exemptions, the government is considering extending the basis period for the selective working hour system from the current one month to six months within the special mega clusters. This system is intended to allow employees to work intensively during specific periods, provided their total working hours over the basis period do not exceed the legal limit.

However, the nation's two major umbrella labor unions have vehemently opposed the government's initiative to relax the 52-hour workweek rule, labeling it as an anti-labor policy and pledging to obstruct the proposed special law.

Minister Kim held a press conference at the Seoul government complex to advocate for the single-issue social dialogue, emphasizing that the special exemptions currently under discussion as part of the mega cluster bill represent an unprecedented path for Korean society.

The bill is also expected to include comprehensive regulatory exemptions and policy support, covering fiscal measures, financing, and infrastructure development. "We're discussing labor provisions applicable only within the special mega cluster zones," Kim stated. "They are a core element of the bill, given that healthy labor is the driving force behind corporate value creation and our society's progress toward sustainable growth."

The minister further highlighted that the proposed social dialogue will address not only special labor provisions but also any proposals made by labor and management aimed at protecting workers' health and enhancing corporate productivity.