“The traditional rule of thumb that the working age limit for physical laborers is 60 years old has now become very difficult to be maintained due to changes in the empirical facts that used to serve as basis for that rule,” said the court. (Image: Kobiz Media/Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Apr. 26 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled recently that the working age limit for ready-mix concrete truck drivers should be raised to over 60 years old.
The decision comes after the Supreme Court’s consensus in February that the working age limit for physical laborers should be raised to the maximum of 65 years old.
In a recent case involving Lee, a ready-mix truck driver, versus Kim, an employee at an automobile maintenance company, the Supreme Court overruled the decision of the previous court recognizing that the working age limit is 60 years old and ordered Kim to pay 51.9 million won (US$44,700) as compensation to Lee.
“The traditional rule of thumb that the working age limit for physical laborers is 60 years old has now become very difficult to be maintained due to changes in the empirical facts that used to serve as basis for that rule,” said the court.
“A new age limit should be set for physical laborers after closely examining relevant factors that form the basis of the new rule of thumb.”
Lee filed a lawsuit against Kim after sustaining injury during automobile maintenance in 2015, when Kim accidentally hit Lee in the eye with an automobile part.
Lee asked that his working age limit be recognized as 65 years old, and that he receive compensation of 88 million won.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
