Ministry of Labor Letter Regarding the Protection of Labor Rights and Interests When Employers Assign Work via Communication Apps After Working Hours.

The purpose of this letter is to emphasize employees’ “right to disconnect” after work, in order to fully protect workers’ personal living space from company interference after office hours. The letter stresses: “Matters concerning whether workers can be contacted after work and whether they are required to provide labor services may be negotiated and agreed upon through labor unions or labor-management meetings. Employers and employees are also advised to communicate and reach agreements in advance to reduce disputes.”

In addition to the right to disconnect, the main purpose of this letter is to emphasize the need to respect workers’ rights by stating that “if a worker is unable to accept work outside normal working hours due to health or other legitimate reasons, the employer shall not force the worker to work.” To this end, the “Guidelines for Working Hours of Workers Outside the Workplace” are provided to offer both enterprises and workers clear standards to follow.