Assemblyman Yongbin Lee Proposes Worker Protection Bill Against Heatwaves and Cold Snaps

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] A bill to protect workers from heatwaves and cold waves has been proposed.

On the 27th, Congressman Lee Yong-bin (The Democratic Party of Korea·Gwangju Gwangsan-gu Gap) announced that he has taken the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Industrial Safety Act," which includes provisions to protect outdoor workers threatened by harsh climate conditions such as heatwaves and cold waves.

Over the five years since 2016, 26 workers have died from heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke caused by heatwaves, and the number of affected workers has reached 156.

Among them, workers mainly working outdoors, such as those in the construction industry (76 people, 49%) and service industries like environmental sanitation (42 people, 26.9%), account for a significant portion.

Since 2018, the government and local governments have been preparing countermeasures against heatwaves, but there are still criticisms on-site that "workers' safety is neglected."

Last year, the National Human Rights Commission also recommended measures to promote the safety and health of construction workers during heatwave and cold wave situations, as well as support measures to provide full or partial wages during work stoppages.

This "Partial Amendment to the Industrial Safety Act" includes provisions to protect workers' lives and safety from heatwaves and cold waves as part of safety measures, such as work stoppages and adjustment of rest times, and requires the government to prepare measures to support full or partial wages during work stoppages.

In particular, if the contract period or project deadline is extended due to measures to protect workers in situations such as heatwaves and cold waves, protection measures for business owners have been established to prevent them from suffering unfair losses and damages.

Congressman Lee said, "In recent years, the damage to workers caused by abnormal climate conditions such as heatwaves and cold waves has been severe, but many sites lack even shade shelters where workers can take a short break due to the practice of prioritizing costs over safety," adding, "Social interest and trust are needed for the difficult reality of workers who are not protected in harsh working environments in climate blind spots."

He continued, "Besides protecting workers' human rights, we aimed to minimize the financial losses or damages that business owners may bear when trying to improve working conditions," and added, "We must strengthen social safety measures so that workplaces exposed to climate threats do not become death traps for workers."