“The semiconductor industry is in an emergency situation where it has moved beyond competition between companies to competition between countries. “Securing labor flexibility is essential for the all-out global semiconductor competition.”

On the 28th, the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association held a ‘Semiconductor Association-Invited Ministry of Employment and Labor Meeting’ at Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek Campus, attended by Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo.

The event was attended by major semiconductor companies, including Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association Kim Jeong-hoe, President of Samsung Electronics Nam Seok-woo, Director of SK Hynix Future Technology Research Institute Cha Sun-yong, and Chairman of Silicon Mitus Huh Yeom.

Semiconductor industry officials conveyed to the government their position that the current working hour system needs to be improved in order to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic semiconductor industry amid intensifying domestic and international competition and increasing uncertainty, and the government decided to listen to the difficulties companies face on the ground and seek ways for labor and management to coexist.

Kim Jeong-hoe, executive vice chairman of the Korea Semiconductor Association, said, “The structure of the semiconductor industry itself is changing due to competition between countries,” adding, “It is not simply Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix competing with foreign countries; it has turned into competition between countries.”

He also said, “With the advancement of AI technology, new chips are developed almost every year, and with chips that are far more powerful than those in the past continuing to be released, the semiconductor industry needs a lot of manpower, but the chances of success in creating new chips are decreasing.” He added, “In the past, although our country was a latecomer in the semiconductor industry, we quickly leaped to become the world’s top semiconductor country, but now that speed is being held back by working hour constraints.”

In addition, “In addition to semiconductor manufacturers, our country has many semiconductor ecosystems including semiconductor design, equipment, materials, and parts, and the characteristics of the work are different, so it is urgent to provide more flexible working hours,” and “The 52-hour workweek system is a human rights issue.”“It places a lot of burden on how to secure and utilize power,” he said.

He continued, “As the semiconductor industry is currently in an emergency situation, I hope that the current working hour restrictions that make it difficult to exercise labor flexibility will be revised through productive discussions in the National Assembly.”

Professor Kim Hee-sung of Kangwon National University, who also gave a presentation, said, “In the case of special extended work hours, there are many limitations, such as requiring the worker’s consent and the Minister of Labor’s approval despite the three-month period,” and “Our working hour system needs to be improved because it is difficult to flexibly utilize in special fields such as semiconductor research and development.”

Accordingly, industry participants suggested that the current working hour system needs to reflect the diverse working environment characteristics of the semiconductor industry and changes in the global competitive environment, and requested that improvement measures be prepared through special laws on semiconductors, etc.