Press Conference at Hwaseong City Hall Memorial Altar
The "Arisel Serious Disaster Countermeasures Committee" has demanded that the authorities guarantee the rights of the victims and conduct a fact-finding investigation through a public-private joint investigation committee.
On the 2nd, the Arisel Countermeasures Committee held a press conference at the Hwaseong City Hall memorial altar and announced 18 demands including this. The committee is a coalition formed by labor, legal, migration, human rights, religious, and civil society organizations to support the victims of the Arisel fire accident.
The Arisel Serious Accident Disaster Countermeasures Committee is holding a press conference at the Hwaseong City Hall memorial altar on the 2nd. [Yonhap News]
In their demands, the committee requested that information confirmed during the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s serious industrial accident investigation process or the police investigation be provided to the victims, and that the victims be guaranteed the right to gather and respond in solidarity. They also demanded that the companies, including Esconec and Arisel, apologize for the disaster and provide sufficient compensation to the victims.
The committee particularly insisted on forming a "public-private joint accident investigation committee" including experts recommended by the bereaved families, and that the progress be regularly reported to the families and the committee.
Along with this, they demanded ▲ improvement of the "risk assessment" system to ensure practical workplace safety ▲ introduction of the Process Safety Management (PSM) system through a full inspection of battery workplaces ▲ a complete ban on subcontracting in the lithium battery industry ▲ strengthening corporate responsibility obligations ▲ enhanced management of hazardous substances ▲ and an investigation into indiscriminate illegal labor supply companies.
The committee also requested that local governments such as Gyeonggi Province and Hwaseong City implement ▲ safety measures for migrant workers residing in their jurisdictions ▲ psychological support for migrants and workers in similar industries ▲ and safety measures for workers in similar industries.
Yang Kyung-soo, co-representative of the committee and chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, said, "The committee will clearly identify the truth of this tragic accident and impose strict punishment on those responsible to prevent another death and stop disasters from recurring at workplaces."
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