The government is considering easing a range of labor regulations to support its flagship megaprojects for the semiconductor and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors, drawing criticism from labor groups that it is prioritizing strategic industries at the expense of workers' rights. According to multiple sources in labor and political circles, Friday, the government is working on proposals to include exemptions from four key labor regulations in a planned special act that would govern the chip cluster megaprojects in the Gwangju region. The exemptions include lifting the 52-hour workweek cap for semiconductor research and development personnel and extending the maximum fixed-term contract period before temporary employees must be converted to regular employees from two years to four. They also include increasing the number of jobs eligible for dispatched workers — a form of non-regular employment — and extending the so-called flexible working hour system from one month to six months, allowing for more intensive workloads during condensed periods while maintaining the 52-hour workweek
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