The People Power Party stated on January 27 that the expansion of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (SAPA) to cover all workplaces with five to fewer than fifty employees "will result in severe damage to our society’s most vulnerable small businesses and self-employed individuals."
Spokesperson Jung Gwangjae said in a commentary that day, "The full implementation of the SAPA is due to the Democratic Party’s stubbornness, which ignored the appeals of the government, the ruling party, and the business community."
Jung noted, "Ninety-four percent of workplaces with fewer than fifty employees are not prepared for the law, and one out of every two has not secured personnel to handle safety and health duties," adding, "As a result, approximately 837,000 small business owners are now facing significant confusion."
He pointed out, "Small business owners who cannot afford to hire a safety manager and must worry about daily sales are now also forced to worry about when and for what kind of accident they might be punished, in addition to concerns about accidents themselves." He continued, "Ultimately, this could lead to a wave of bankruptcies, layoffs, and reduced hiring, and it is obvious that the resulting damage will fall on workers. While safety in the workplace is undoubtedly the highest priority, safety should be pursued as a matter of prevention, not simply through punishment."
He added, "Since there is still an opportunity for discussion and negotiation until the final plenary session, the People Power Party will make every effort to minimize the damage and confusion for small business owners."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
