Samsung gets government approval for staff to work 64-hour weeks in R&D, semiconductor division

Samsung Electronics is the first company to receive government approval to extend working hours in order to boost its semiconductor research and development (R&D) staff, with the South Korean government approving a new policy to increase the industry's semiconductor competitiveness, boosting work hours up to 64 hours per week.

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In a new report from Korean media outlet Chosun, industry sources said that the Ministry of Employment and Labor's Gyeonggi branch approved the request on April 9. The new exemption allows Samsung's chip R&D staffers to work up to 64 hours per week for the first 3 months, and up to 60 hours per week for the 3 months after, exceeding the 52-hour statutory workweek that South Korea allows.

The South Korean government revised its labor rules on March 14, extending the permitted overtime for semiconductor R&D roles to 6 months per application, up from 3 months previously. South Korean companies can now seek approval for a one-time, 6-month extension under the new rules.

Chosun adds that a South Korean labor minister official said other semiconductor firms -- I'm guessing SK hynix, Samsung's major memory rival -- are also preparing similar applications to boost the amount of work hours staffers can burn through.

We don't know if these employees will enjoy higher compensation from working the longer work hours, but we'd like to expect they'd be paid a higher rate once they pass the previous limit of 52 hours per week.