Ministry of the Interior and Safety Holds Meeting with Police and Fire Service Workplace Councils
Sharing Cases of Improved Working Conditions and Enhanced Public Administrative Services
Discussions have begun to improve the working environment for police and fire service officials. This aims to prevent decreased work concentration caused by long hours of night shifts and reflects the policy principle of "creating a country where uniformed heroes are respected."
On the 18th, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that it held an on-site meeting of the "Police and Fire Workplace Council Working Group" at the Cheongju Heungdeok Police Station. This meeting was organized to create a work concentration environment for police and fire officials, listen to the difficulties and suggestions of frontline police and fire workers, and discuss improvement measures. In particular, to hear the diverse opinions of frontline officials who protect the lives and safety of the public, representatives from both the police and fire workplace councils participated, moving beyond the usual meetings centered on workplace council officers.
The attendees shared cases of improving working conditions for officials and enhancing public administrative services through workplace councils in each institution. Lee Yong-jae, representative of the Cheongju Heungdeok Police Station Workplace Council, evaluated, "To prevent health deterioration and decreased work concentration caused by long night shifts, we extended the waiting time during night shifts from 2 hours to 3 hours, which increased employee job satisfaction and improved public security services." Kim Gil-jung, representative of the Seoul Gangseo Fire Station Workplace Council, said, "To improve the work performance and safety of new firefighters, we introduced the '1-on-1 Manito Project,' which reduced firefighter injuries and mortality rates and strengthened emergency response capabilities."
On this day, attendees also pointed out that administrative power is being wasted due to some citizens' false or prank calls and behaviors that disregard public authority, such as intoxicated individuals. As a result, cases where prompt administrative services are not provided in time to citizens who genuinely need help are increasing.
Support measures at the government level are continuously being discussed. President Yoon Suk-yeol has taken the lead in significantly raising the ranks of local fire commanders to the level of police officers to establish command authority at disaster sites, and the ruling party is also addressing improvements in the treatment of police and fire officials. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced the implementation next year of an amendment to the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of National Cemeteries," which includes interring uniformed personnel who have served as police officers or firefighters for over 30 years and retired at the national cemetery, reflecting the same context.
Kim Min-jae, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, "We will actively share the excellent cases introduced at today's on-site meeting so that they can be utilized by other institutions," and added, "We will make every effort to ensure that workplace councils contribute to improving the working environment and organizational culture of officials and enhance public administrative services."
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