Yangcheon District Operates 'Dawn Labor Market Heat Shelter' for Construction Day Laborers to Combat Heatwave

A Dawn Labor Market Heat Shelter
Opens Near Sinjeongnegeori Station

Yangcheon District in Seoul will operate a 'Dawn Labor Market Heat Shelter' for two months, from July to August, when the intense summer heat begins. The shelter is intended for construction day laborers who start their job search early in the morning.

‘Heat Illness Prevention Kit’ distributed to construction workers at the dawn labor market. Provided by Yangcheon District Office.

Amid a prolonged economic downturn, the district has been operating seasonal dawn labor market shelters every summer and winter for workers who come out to the streets in vulnerable job-seeking environments. Last summer, an average of 23 people per day, totaling 1,192 individuals, used the shelter.

This summer, the dawn labor market shelter will be open from July 1 to August 31, near Exit 2 of Sinjeongnegeori Station (280 Sinwol-ro). The operating hours are from 4:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., Monday through Saturday. Two dedicated staff members will directly manage the shelter on-site to ensure a comfortable and pleasant environment.

The shelter will provide a shaded area with a portable tent, and will offer cold water to relieve thirst, as well as 'Heat Illness Prevention Kits' to workers. The Heat Illness Prevention Kit, sponsored by the Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association, contains a cooling pack, cooling patch, and saline glucose, all packaged for portability.

Meanwhile, the district has established and is implementing a 'Comprehensive Heatwave Response Plan' to protect vulnerable groups from extreme heat and to ensure the safety of residents during the summer. In particular, the district plans to strengthen protective measures for outdoor workers according to each stage of heatwave alerts, in order to ensure safe working conditions at construction sites and prevent heatstroke.

Lee Gijae, Mayor of Yangcheon District, stated, "With the construction industry slump making job-seeking conditions difficult, we are opening the dawn labor market shelter to provide a more comfortable environment for workers, even if only a little," and added, "I hope the shelter will become a place where construction day laborers can rest comfortably while they wait."