▲ This photo, provided by the labor ministry on July 30, 2026, shows Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon speaking at the government complex in Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEJONG, Aug. 5 (Yonhap) -- Labor Minister Kim Young-hoon pledged Wednesday to hold talks with labor groups over an envisioned special bill that would ease labor regulations at a planned semiconductor complex in the southwestern Honam region.

The legislative push has drawn strong backlash from the country's two major umbrella labor groups over plans to exempt certain workers from the country's 52-hour weekly work-hour limit in case they agree.

The umbrella unions have voiced opposition to the bill, arguing it would encourage overwork and create low-quality jobs.

"No government policy has been finalized regarding the mega cluster bill and (we) are now in the process of letting discussions mature," Kim said in a press conference, calling for a "rational alternative" through dialogue.

Kim pledged to engage in dialogue with labor groups, noting the two umbrella unions have proposed meeting with President Lee Jae Myung and formal social discussions.

The labor ministry earlier briefed lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Party on the envisioned special bill, which aims to support the chip cluster project by loosening labor rules, such as the weekly work-hour cap.

Under the chip cluster project unveiled in June, chipmakers Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. have pledged to invest a combined 800 trillion won (US$561 billion).

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