1. Reasons for Proposal

The current work hours system has been maintained for 70 years since it was established in 1953 during the era of the Factories Act, and is therefore incompatible with the digital revolution and changes in the way people live and work today. Accordingly, this Amendment reforms the work hours system to expand labor and management autonomy and protect the right to health and rest in keeping with the expansion of the service industry, advancements in digital/information technology, and diversification of personal preferences and choices. 

2. Major Provisions

Management of extended work hours strictly in weekly units poses difficulties in coordinating the interests of employers and employees. Accordingly, the Amendment reforms the management of extended work hours into weekly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, and yearly units and introduces such measures as 11 hours of continuous rest between work days to protect employees’ right to health. It increases the adjustment period for the selective work hours system (three months for all business categories, six months for research and development work) so as to reinforce the right of employees to freely determine such matters as their working days and start and finish times; prescribes fair election procedures, authority, and responsibilities of representatives of employees; and otherwise generally modifies the representative of employees system. Regarding terms and conditions of employment limited to certain kinds of work or occupational groups, the Amendment prescribes procedures for dutifully incorporating the intentions of the relevant employees. It also expands and restructures the current compensatory leave system into a work hour savings system that allows employees to take leave by banking their extended work hours, etc.