Korean minister says mega special zone bill must include labor exceptions
In short
Industry and Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan (김정관) said on 22 October that his ministry wants labor-related exception clauses, including exemptions from the 52-hour work week, in the mega special zone bill. He told a National Assembly audit that he would do his best to pass the bill in the current regular session, while the labor ministry sees a need for social consensus.
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Industry and Trade Minister Kim Jung-kwan said on 22 October that the mega special zone bill, also called the ultra-wide-area special zone bill, should include labor special provisions such as an exemption from the 52-hour work week. The bill is meant to support mega projects. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Kim spoke at the comprehensive audit of the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Resources, SMEs and Startups Committee. Cho Ji-yeon of the People Power Party asked for the ministry's position. Kim replied that the ministry hopes labor-related exception clauses are definitely included in the bill. He added that the Ministry of Employment and Labor appears to hold that social consensus is needed and that social discussion should take place. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Yonhap and Asia Economy reported that the government has not agreed on provisions such as a 52-hour exemption for high-income and research workers. They said the Democratic Party has recently introduced both a bill with labor special provisions and a bill without them. [ 1 , 3 ]
Cho said the discussion had become a war of attrition rather than speed. Kim answered that he would do his best to pass the bill in this regular session. Newsis quoted him as saying he was giving a general statement that he would work to legislate the bill quickly. Asked whether the ministry was neglecting its control-tower role for mega projects, including budget preparation and review, Kim said he took the point seriously and would work hard. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Newsis added that Cho raised the adequacy of fiscal support for a semiconductor cluster in Gwangju. She asked whether infrastructure costs such as power had been specifically calculated in an integrated support program of about 1.5 trillion won a year, and whether it could overlap with state funding under the semiconductor special act. Kim said that of the 5 trillion won, how to spend it was decided by Jeonnam-Gwangju city, and that the ministry reflected the local government's decision to put 1.5 trillion won there. He said he would give more detail once the project becomes concrete. [ 2 ]
In other exchanges reported by Yonhap and Asia Economy, People Power Party lawmaker Park Sung-min (박성민) said it was inappropriate that the government split energy and resource policy between the industry ministry and the climate, energy and environment ministry. Kim said that in the long run industry and energy should go together, and that nuclear power is divided between domestic plants and exports, which causes inefficiency. Asked about the response to the crude oil supply crisis caused by the Middle East war, when the focus was said to be on securing volume rather than price, Kim said supply comes first in a war-like situation and policies are changing as the situation eases. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The documents show that ministries in the government have not agreed on whether the bill should contain labor exceptions. The Democratic Party has introduced bills both with and without such provisions, so the content and timing of the bill remain open.
Key facts
- Minister Kim Jung-kwan said at the National Assembly's comprehensive audit on 22 October that his ministry hopes labor-related exception clauses will definitely be included in the mega special zone bill. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said the Ministry of Employment and Labor appears to want social discussion because it considers social consensus necessary. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Asked by People Power Party lawmaker Cho Ji-yeon (조지연) whether the talks had become a war of attrition rather than speed, Kim said he would do his best to pass the bill in this regular session. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The government has not found common ground on provisions such as a 52-hour week exemption for high-income and research workers; the Democratic Party has introduced bills both with and without labor provisions. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Kim said he takes seriously the criticism that the ministry is neglecting its control-tower role for mega projects. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Kim Jung-kwan said his ministry wants labor-related exception clauses to be included in the mega special zone bill. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim said he would do his best to pass the bill in the current regular session of the National Assembly. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Democratic Party has introduced both a bill with labor special provisions and a bill without them. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the final bill will include the labor exceptions, such as the 52-hour week exemption. Documents say the government has not reached agreement and that the labor ministry favors social discussion.
- How the annual support of about 1.5 trillion won for the Gwangju semiconductor cluster is calculated and whether it overlaps with state funding under the semiconductor special act. Only one outlet reported lawmaker Cho's questions; Kim said details would be given once the project is more concrete.