Lee Jeong-sik: "Focus on Reducing Major Accidents... Please Actively Participate in the Industrial Safety Big Diagnosis"

Daejindan as a Turning Point for Advanced Industrial Safety Nations

Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, stated on the 8th, "One of the key policy directions that the Ministry of Employment and Labor is focusing on this year is to drastically reduce serious industrial accidents," urging companies to actively participate in the industrial safety comprehensive inspection.

On the 6th, during the 13th plenary session of the Economic, Social and Labor Council held at the Gyeongsanowi meeting room in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Lee Jeong-sik, Minister of Employment and Labor, is speaking. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

Minister Lee appeared on KBS Radio's 'Jeon Jong-cheol's Jeonggyeok Sisa' on the same day and said, "Small and micro enterprises with fewer than 50 employees lack time, money, and capacity, so the reality is that they do not even know whether the law applies to them, what they need to do, or how to prepare," adding, "Through this opportunity, the government plans to conduct a large-scale safety inspection targeting approximately 837,000 workplaces nationwide, and to enhance capabilities for preventing serious accidents through consulting, education, technical guidance, and financial support."

He continued, "To facilitate this, we plan to establish counseling support centers in 30 regions nationwide to help anxious small and micro enterprise owners assess their own prevention capabilities," emphasizing, "Since the comprehensive inspection is being conducted as a turning point to transform into an advanced industrial safety country, we hope for active participation."

Regarding the issue of wage arrears, he stated, "We consider it the top priority task to resolve livelihood issues," and expressed the position, "We will respond with strict punishment and zero tolerance." Minister Lee explained, "The rate of increase in wage arrears has risen by about 30% before and after the COVID-19 crisis. In terms of amount, it is approximately 1.78 trillion won," adding, "Especially in the construction industry, which accounts for only 8% of total employment, the arrears amount to about 400 billion won, approximately 25% of the total arrears, which is a serious level."

He further added, "System improvements are also necessary, such as the amendment of the Wage Claim Guarantee Act to prevent employers from withholding wages," and "The amendment to the Labor Standards Act is also underway. Among its contents are credit sanctions, public disclosure of names, and absolute prohibition from participating in government support projects, which will create a fair and just society where it is common sense that running a business in Korea while withholding or evading wages is difficult."