Understanding Overtime Pay in South Korea
Calculating overtime pay in South Korea involves understanding the country's specific labor regulations under the Labor Standards Act (LSA). The standard workweek is 40 hours, with a maximum of 8 hours per day. However, employees can work up to 12 additional hours of overtime per week, bringing the legal maximum workweek to 52 hours. Overtime is compensated at a rate of 150% of the ordinary wage. This rate increases significantly during night hours and holidays due to additional premiums.
For instance, work between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM requires an extra 50% premium, making the total compensation 200% if it overlaps with overtime. Similarly, holiday work is compensated at 150% for the first 8 hours and 200% beyond that. Understanding these rates ensures fair compensation for employees and compliance for employers. The phased implementation of the 52-hour workweek started in 2018 for large companies and extended to smaller companies by 2021.