MZ Generation's 'Refresh' Workers' Council Opposes Wage Cuts for 4.5-Day Workweek

The 'Refresh Workers' Council' (새로고침), primarily composed of the MZ generation, has announced its stance against the implementation of a 4.5-day workweek without wage reductions. They plan to send a statement to presidential candidates regarding this issue. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, advocates for a transition to a 4-day workweek in the long term, while Kim Moon-soo from the People Power Party proposes a 4.5-day workweek that adjusts daily working hours without changing the total weekly hours. Lee Jun-seok from the Reform Party warns of significant side effects from an unprepared 4.5-day workweek.

Unlike the traditional labor unions, Refresh focuses on office and research positions, with unions from eight companies, including LG Electronics and Seoul Transportation Corporation, as members. Song Si-young, the chair of Refresh, stated in a phone interview on the 19th that while reducing working hours is a positive direction, implementing a 4.5-day workweek without wage cuts is practically unfeasible. He emphasized that companies would need to hire additional staff to maintain productivity, which would inevitably lead to wage reductions for existing employees.

He suggested that if immediate implementation is unrealistic, gradual reductions in working hours should be pursued through flexible work systems or labor-management agreements, and that incentives should be provided to companies that proactively reach such agreements.

Refresh also expressed its opposition to the immediate legislative extension of the retirement age. While Lee Jae-myung supports a gradual extension through social consensus, Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok stress the need for caution regarding legal retirement age extensions, highlighting the importance of youth employment policies.

Song warned that legislating an immediate retirement age extension across all industries could lead to a decrease in new hires among the youth, complicating workforce acquisition. He stated that the timing for such legislation should be based on realistic and objective data regarding demographic structures, and that improvements to the wage peak system, which is unfavorable to workers, should be prioritized before considering retirement age extensions.