The coalition underscores the need to transition from a society where work dominates life, to one where a harmonious balance between work and life is achievable and encouraged. (Image courtesy of Pexels)
SEOUL, Mar. 1 (Korea Bizwire) –A coalition of South Korean labor and civic organizations has come together to launch a network dedicated to the implementation of a four-day workweek and the elimination of prolonged labor practices.
Dubbed the “Four-Day Workweek Network,” the coalition officially commenced its activities with a launch ceremony held at the National Assembly on February 29, advocating for the legislative endorsement of a reduced workweek to promote work-life balance, gender equality, and an effective response to the climate crisis.
The network comprises a diverse array of participants including major labor unions like the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, the Korean Women’s Trade Union, the Youth Community Union, the Korea Worker Institute Union Center, and the Korean Women Workers Association.
Additionally, unions affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions have also joined the initiative.
In their founding declaration, the members emphasized the historical significance of reducing working hours, stating, “The reduction of labor hours is intrinsically linked to the history of labor.”
They argued that as industrial structures and work methodologies evolve, so too must the societal norms regarding the labor time framework, advocating for a new standard that reflects contemporary societal needs and aspirations.
The network challenges prevailing attitudes towards the workweek, contrasting the economic concerns associated with a shorter workweek with the necessity for rest and rejuvenation that a three-day weekend would provide.
The coalition underscores the need to transition from a society where work dominates life, to one where a harmonious balance between work and life is achievable and encouraged.
In addition to pushing for the legal establishment of a four-day workweek, the Four-Day Workweek Network has outlined several key demands including the formulation of a comprehensive plan for reducing working hours, the establishment of a “National Working Hours Committee,” and the transition to a labor hour system aimed at eradicating long working hours.
Both of South Korea’s major labor federations, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, have incorporated the introduction of a four-day workweek into their policy demands for the upcoming general election, signaling a unified front in the push for labor reform.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
