Kim Dae-jung Calls for 5-Day Work WeekPresident Kim Dae-jung called Tuesday for a five-day work week and ordered the Tripartite Commission to prepare detailed plans on it."The five-day-work week and economic development should work together for a good balance," the president said in a cabinet meeting. "Reasonable plans that will satisfy both labor and management should be prepared." Most Koreans currently work six days a week. Holidays would need to be adjusted, Mr. Kim said, adding, "We should reach an agreement, referring to international standards. If we take too many days off, our nation's competitiveness could fall down." Among nations where the five-day work week is the norm, American workers average 142 days off per year and Japanese workers 129 to139 days. |
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