ID :
45874
Mon, 02/16/2009 - 17:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/45874
The shortlink copeid
Gov't pushing to introduce daylight savings time in 2010
By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Feb. 16 (Yonhap) -- The government is trying to drum up public support to re-introduce daylight savings time in 2010, which may help stimulate domestic consumption and create more jobs, policymakers said Monday.
At the unveiling of the new eco-friendly economic growth master plan, officials
of the Presidential Committee on Green Growth said adjusting working hours during
the summer months could allow people to enjoy more leisure time, invest more in
self-improvement efforts and cut the use of electricity.
"The plan would allow people to get off work an hour early that can change the
overall lifestyle of South Koreans and spark growth in a whole new line of
businesses," said Kim Jung-gwan, deputy minister of energy resources at the
Ministry of Knowledge Economy.
The worldwide economic slump is expected to cause South Korea's economy to shrink
2 percent on-year in 2009, with up 200,000 jobs being lost. Such predictions have
made it imperative to formulate changes that stimulate the economy and hiring.
He said that while detailed studies on effects and cost must be made, rough
predictions announced by the Korea Energy Economic Institute (KEEI) in early 2007
showed domestic consumption may rise 862.8 billion won (US$612.1 million), with
production in both the industrial and service sectors jumping 1.2 trillion won
overall.
He claimed that energy consumption may dip 0.3 percent if the system were
adopted, and pointed out that among the 30 Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development members, only South Korea, Japan and Iceland do not employ this
system.
Kim, however, said that Seoul will take time to listen carefully to public
opinion and hold numerous public hearings to reduce any side effects that may
arise.
"If there is adequate public consensus, the system may start around May of next
year at the earliest," the official said.
Other policymakers at the meeting chaired by President Lee Myung-bak said Seoul
will carefully weigh the pros and cons of the system before pushing it forward.
South Korea adopted daylight savings system from 1948-1960, and reintroduced the
practice in 1987-1988 before discontinuing it because of public complaints.
It is strongly advocated for by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) -- the
umbrella lobbying group of large businesses -- that claims allowing workers to
get off work early in the summer months could cause economic output to rise 2.2
trillion won in such areas as tourism, culture, leisure and sports.
"The system can also help cut electricity costs in the workplace and homes by 86
billion won annually," said an FKI spokesperson.
The system was again brought to the forefront of debate in 2007, when the prime
minister's office took the lead in generating consensus, but dropped the issue in
the face of opposition from labor groups and findings by think tanks that raised
doubts about the economic gains.
The Korea Development Institute (KDI), the Korea Transportation Institute, and
the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute all concurred in 2007 that it is hard to
prove that the daylight savings system would bolster economic activity by a
meaningful extent, while energy saved may be marginal.
The KDI emphasized that there is a possibility of increases in recreational and
leisure spending, but if total working hours are not increased, there can be
little change in output.
Related to the move by the government to reopen debate, labor unions unanimously
expressed opposition, stressing that daylight savings time will only result in
more working hours.
"Most South Koreans already put in more than an eight hours per day regardless of
the law, and by telling people to come in an hour early, the system will
effectively increase the time employees spend on their jobs," said Kim Jong-gap,
a industrial policy director at the Federation of Korean Trade Unions said.
This view was echoed by the progressive Korea Confederation of Trade Unions
(KCTU) that claimed it will be hard for people to get off work when there is
plenty of sunlight left, especially since economic conditions are deteriorating,
resulting in restructuring and the layoff of workers.
"Very few people will be able to walk out and enjoy leisure time," a KCTU
official said.
Surveys conducted in 2007, meanwhile, showed that 30 percent of respondents
opposed the system, fearing more work hours, with about half of respondents
replying they would welcome such a change.
SEOUL, Feb. 16 (Yonhap) -- The government is trying to drum up public support to re-introduce daylight savings time in 2010, which may help stimulate domestic consumption and create more jobs, policymakers said Monday.
At the unveiling of the new eco-friendly economic growth master plan, officials
of the Presidential Committee on Green Growth said adjusting working hours during
the summer months could allow people to enjoy more leisure time, invest more in
self-improvement efforts and cut the use of electricity.
"The plan would allow people to get off work an hour early that can change the
overall lifestyle of South Koreans and spark growth in a whole new line of
businesses," said Kim Jung-gwan, deputy minister of energy resources at the
Ministry of Knowledge Economy.
The worldwide economic slump is expected to cause South Korea's economy to shrink
2 percent on-year in 2009, with up 200,000 jobs being lost. Such predictions have
made it imperative to formulate changes that stimulate the economy and hiring.
He said that while detailed studies on effects and cost must be made, rough
predictions announced by the Korea Energy Economic Institute (KEEI) in early 2007
showed domestic consumption may rise 862.8 billion won (US$612.1 million), with
production in both the industrial and service sectors jumping 1.2 trillion won
overall.
He claimed that energy consumption may dip 0.3 percent if the system were
adopted, and pointed out that among the 30 Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development members, only South Korea, Japan and Iceland do not employ this
system.
Kim, however, said that Seoul will take time to listen carefully to public
opinion and hold numerous public hearings to reduce any side effects that may
arise.
"If there is adequate public consensus, the system may start around May of next
year at the earliest," the official said.
Other policymakers at the meeting chaired by President Lee Myung-bak said Seoul
will carefully weigh the pros and cons of the system before pushing it forward.
South Korea adopted daylight savings system from 1948-1960, and reintroduced the
practice in 1987-1988 before discontinuing it because of public complaints.
It is strongly advocated for by the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) -- the
umbrella lobbying group of large businesses -- that claims allowing workers to
get off work early in the summer months could cause economic output to rise 2.2
trillion won in such areas as tourism, culture, leisure and sports.
"The system can also help cut electricity costs in the workplace and homes by 86
billion won annually," said an FKI spokesperson.
The system was again brought to the forefront of debate in 2007, when the prime
minister's office took the lead in generating consensus, but dropped the issue in
the face of opposition from labor groups and findings by think tanks that raised
doubts about the economic gains.
The Korea Development Institute (KDI), the Korea Transportation Institute, and
the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute all concurred in 2007 that it is hard to
prove that the daylight savings system would bolster economic activity by a
meaningful extent, while energy saved may be marginal.
The KDI emphasized that there is a possibility of increases in recreational and
leisure spending, but if total working hours are not increased, there can be
little change in output.
Related to the move by the government to reopen debate, labor unions unanimously
expressed opposition, stressing that daylight savings time will only result in
more working hours.
"Most South Koreans already put in more than an eight hours per day regardless of
the law, and by telling people to come in an hour early, the system will
effectively increase the time employees spend on their jobs," said Kim Jong-gap,
a industrial policy director at the Federation of Korean Trade Unions said.
This view was echoed by the progressive Korea Confederation of Trade Unions
(KCTU) that claimed it will be hard for people to get off work when there is
plenty of sunlight left, especially since economic conditions are deteriorating,
resulting in restructuring and the layoff of workers.
"Very few people will be able to walk out and enjoy leisure time," a KCTU
official said.
Surveys conducted in 2007, meanwhile, showed that 30 percent of respondents
opposed the system, fearing more work hours, with about half of respondents
replying they would welcome such a change.
