Complete Inspection of Workplaces Employing Foreign Workers with 'Group Infection'

Ministry of Employment Implements Strengthened Quarantine Management Measures
Lee Jae-gap "Deploying All Available Personnel Throughout March"

Minister Lee Jae-gap of the Ministry of Employment and Labor speaking while presiding over the Employment and Labor Crisis Response TF Countermeasure Meeting at the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office conference room on the 2nd. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] As a recent COVID-19 cluster infection occurred at workplaces employing foreign workers, the government has launched a full inspection.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on the 2nd that at the Employment and Labor Crisis Response Task Force (TF) meeting chaired by Minister Lee Jae-gap, it decided to implement the 'Measures to Strengthen Quarantine Management at Workplaces Employing Foreign Workers.'

Accordingly, the Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to conduct a special full inspection of about 11,000 manufacturing workplaces that employ five or more foreign workers and have dormitories.

Special inspection teams will be formed at local offices to cooperate with local governments and the Ministry of Justice's immigration offices, aiming to complete the full inspection within this month.

Workplaces found violating quarantine rules or refusing inspection will be reported to local governments for strong measures such as fines.

If there is a high risk of COVID-19 cluster infection, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests will also be required.

In addition, the Ministry of Employment and Labor will include compliance with workplace quarantine rules as a key inspection item in all industrial safety and labor inspections this year.

Minister Lee emphasized, "All local offices should focus on the special full inspection this month by deploying all available personnel, and firmly take action on violations in cooperation with local governments to ensure thorough quarantine management."