Samsung extends working hours, reports say SK Hynix and others are considering following suit, South Korean government: This move aims to enhance international competitiveness

The South Korean Ministry of Labor recently approved Samsung Electronics' semiconductor system division's special working hours application, allowing its R&D personnel to implement a maximum of 64 hours of work per week (i.e., five days a week, 12.8 hours a day) for the next three months, followed by an adjustment to 60 hours per week for the subsequent three months. Currently, South Korea has revised the Labor Standards Act, allowing high-tech companies certified by the government as "semiconductor R&D enterprises" to apply for extended overtime limits, and also extending the approval period for overtime in semiconductor companies to one year. Samsung submitted materials such as the government-certified "semiconductor R&D enterprise" proof, and the approval process was completed swiftly