Labor Unions Denounce Proposed "Mega Special Zone Act" for Undermining Worker Rights

South Korea's major labor unions have voiced strong opposition to the government's proposed "Mega Special Zone Act," arguing it represents a significant rollback of labor rights under the guise of fostering advanced industries. The Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) have both issued statements condemning the legislation.

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We express strong concern that the deregulation measures long demanded by the business community are being pursued all at once through the Mega Special Zone.

The proposed act includes provisions that would extend the maximum duration for fixed-term employment contracts from the current two years to four years. Additionally, it seeks to exempt research and development (R&D) positions from the 52-hour workweek regulations. Unions argue these measures are reminiscent of labor reforms attempted by previous administrations that were met with strong public backlash.

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We cannot help but suspect that this is an attempt to first implement policies that have received 'social judgment' in specific regions and then use them as a stepping stone for nationwide expansion. The Mega Special Zone should not become a testing ground for the regression of labor rights.

The KCTU expressed deep concern that the Mega Special Zone Act bundles together long-standing demands from the business sector for deregulation. The union suspects this is a strategic attempt to test and potentially expand these relaxed labor standards nationwide, starting with specific designated zones. They emphasize that the Mega Special Zones should not become experimental grounds for eroding labor rights.

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We strongly condemn the attempt to regress workers' basic labor rights, health rights, and employment stability under the pretext of fostering advanced industries. Immediately halt the promotion of the Mega Special Zone Act, which undermines labor standards.

The FKTU echoed these sentiments, urging the government to halt the legislation. They argue that fundamental labor rights, including health and employment stability, are being undermined. The union warned that creating exceptions for labor standards within these special zones could inevitably lead to their normalization across the country. They advocate for special zones to focus on creating quality jobs and sustainable industrial ecosystems, emphasizing that true industrial competitiveness stems from stable employment, adequate R&D investment, skilled workforce development, and a guaranteed quality of life for workers, not from precarious labor conditions.

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Labor hour regulations, restrictions on the use of fixed-term workers, and the minimum protections under labor laws are social safety nets to protect workers' health and employment stability. If we start allowing exceptions for these reasons as 'Mega Special Zones,' those exceptions will inevitably become normalized.