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Fifteen Seoul City Council members are moving to ban city workers from sending work requests via mobile messenger apps after office hours, it was announced Thursday.
Kim Gwang-su, a Seoul City Council member, said they proposed a revision to the Ordinance of Seoul City Public Servants bill last week.
“Although public servants need to serve citizens 24/7, their fundamental rights to rest are often ignored due to excessive workload,” Kim said.
“The Seoul mayor should protect public servants and try not to disregard their constitutional rights on privacy and freedom,” Kim added.
If the revision is approved, it will include new clauses such as: “The Seoul Mayor should protect public servants’ rights to rest and prohibit public officials from ordering work through phone calls, text messages, social networking services and other communication channels after office hours.”
South Korea has among the longest work weeks of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member countries.
“Although it depends on the character of the manager, many public servants here are stressed about receiving work at night or during the weekend. That is why I welcome systemically prohibiting ordering work during off-duty hours,” a Seoul city official told The Korea Herald on the condition of anonymity.
Some expressed concern the ban could “become a nuisance” when officials have to respond quickly to an urgent matter.
In June, Minjoo Party of Korea lawmaker Shin Kyung-min proposed a revision to the current Labor Standard Act, which bans ordering work through text messages and other communication channels. The revision is pending at the National Assembly.
Shin said the revised law will be able to protect laborers’ rights and privacy, as many of them handle work duties after office hours via their smartphones, tablets and other smart devices.
By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)
Kim Gwang-su, a Seoul City Council member, said they proposed a revision to the Ordinance of Seoul City Public Servants bill last week.
“Although public servants need to serve citizens 24/7, their fundamental rights to rest are often ignored due to excessive workload,” Kim said.
“The Seoul mayor should protect public servants and try not to disregard their constitutional rights on privacy and freedom,” Kim added.
If the revision is approved, it will include new clauses such as: “The Seoul Mayor should protect public servants’ rights to rest and prohibit public officials from ordering work through phone calls, text messages, social networking services and other communication channels after office hours.”
South Korea has among the longest work weeks of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development member countries.
“Although it depends on the character of the manager, many public servants here are stressed about receiving work at night or during the weekend. That is why I welcome systemically prohibiting ordering work during off-duty hours,” a Seoul city official told The Korea Herald on the condition of anonymity.
Some expressed concern the ban could “become a nuisance” when officials have to respond quickly to an urgent matter.
In June, Minjoo Party of Korea lawmaker Shin Kyung-min proposed a revision to the current Labor Standard Act, which bans ordering work through text messages and other communication channels. The revision is pending at the National Assembly.
Shin said the revised law will be able to protect laborers’ rights and privacy, as many of them handle work duties after office hours via their smartphones, tablets and other smart devices.
By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)
