Gyeonggi Province Launches 4.5-Day Workweek Pilot Program

On June 19, Gyeonggi Province announced the launch of South Korea's first pilot program for a 4.5-day workweek aimed at the private sector. This initiative, which aligns with President Lee Jae-myung's campaign promise during his presidential run, has been in development since last year. The program focuses on reducing working hours without cutting wages and will be tested for two years, from this month until 2027.

In April, Gyeonggi Province selected 67 private companies to participate in the pilot, which includes a diverse range of businesses from social enterprises to IT firms and local media outlets. The Gyeonggi Content Agency, a public institution, is also involved, ensuring a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors.

Under the program, Gyeonggi Province will provide a subsidy of up to 260,000 KRW per employee, allowing companies to implement various work arrangements such as a 4.5-day workweek (with flexible days), a 35-hour workweek, or a bi-weekly 4-day workweek. This financial support is intended to help maintain employee wages. Additionally, companies can receive up to 20 million KRW for customized labor consulting and the establishment of personnel management systems.

Hugreen Co., a manufacturing company based in Paju, has already implemented a bi-weekly 4-day workweek due to high labor intensity affecting employee health. The company has now decided to join the 4.5-day workweek pilot program.

CEO Kim Do-yoon stated, "Reducing physical fatigue through the 4.5-day workweek will facilitate hiring and naturally increase productivity. This will enhance employee satisfaction and elevate the company’s standing."

Dooop Co., an information services firm located in Seongnam, has been operating a 35-hour workweek since May 2021. Following its participation in the 4.5-day workweek initiative, the company plans to further reduce working hours to 30 per week.

CEO Choi Won-seok shared, "I used to hear my child say, 'Dad, see you tomorrow' when I left in the morning. Now, I can spend time with my child in the evening, which makes both of us happy and improves my work performance. Despite the reduced hours, there has been no decline in productivity or development speed. Employee satisfaction has significantly increased, leading to no resignations or turnover, positively impacting organizational stability."

Gyeonggi Province plans to analyze the program's effectiveness through 44 detailed indicators, including labor productivity and job satisfaction. The goal is to establish a social consensus on appropriate working hours and propose improvements for nationwide implementation.

On June 19, Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Job Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with participating companies at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Suwon and held a town hall meeting.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon expressed, "By fully implementing the 4.5-day workweek, we believe the lives of our residents and citizens can change. This pilot program is the first of its kind in the nation. In the past, there was significant opposition to the 5-day workweek, but it eventually became established. I am pleased that Gyeonggi Province is taking a bold step in reshaping the labor market and the work lives of our citizens."

He added, "As President Lee Jae-myung has made the 4.5-day workweek a key promise, we expect this initiative to expand nationwide, starting from Gyeonggi Province."