The amended Labor Standard Act is poised to take effect beginning July 1st, ushering in a full-fledged era of five-day workweeks in South Korea.
The labor ministry in Seoul said Wednesday that from Thursday, legal working hours of public corporations and their affiliates with over 1,000 employees will be reduced to 40 hours from the current 44 hours per week.
The reduced working hours for smaller companies will be implemented over a phased period until the year 2008.
Up to now, 51.5 percent of all public firms have concluded pertinent negotiations including removal of monthly leaves, improvement of vacation days, and restrictions on further curtailment of wages.