Gov't to Ease Working-Hour Cap Over Japanese Export Curbs
23 July, 2019
The government has decided to allow companies to work extra hours if they are researching and developing alternative supplies amid fresh Japanese export curbs.
A special waiver for disasters and emergencies will be applied to lift the 12-hour cap on weekly overtime.
The exception can be put in place for a maximum of three months at one time, but the government said it will allow an extension for up to nine months.
Labor Minister Lee Jae-gap said told reporters, "We consider the current situation equivalent to a social disaster as it has a huge impact on our economy. Therefore we decided to apply the waiver if firms develop goods that Japan decided to stop exporting to Korea or want to test equivalent goods produced in other countries."
He declined to say which companies will benefit to protect them from any Japanese retaliation.
Tokyo is striking Korea off a whitelist of countries that do not need case-by-case permits every time they want to import certain goods, a measure that will affect some vital parts and materials for Korean IT products on which Japan currently has a virtual monopoly.
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