South Korea has introduced the 52-hour workweek system on Sunday at companies with more than 300 workers, with the aim of offering the shorter working hours at all workplaces by 2021.

Under the new system, Korean workers cannot work over 52 hours per week – they are allowed 40 hours of regular work and 12 hours of overtime.

A business owner who violates the rules can face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won.

According to the Ministry of Labor, about 60 percent of some 36-hundred firms subject to the new change have already adopted the system.

The government, the presidential office and the ruling Democratic Party last month agreed to enforce a six-month grace period for companies having difficulties in applying the change.

Companies with 50 to 300 workers should implement the system starting January 1, 2020, and those with five to 50 workers should do so from July 1, 2021.