Gyeongnam Labor Groups Call for Guarantee of Right to Rest as Workplace Temperatures Exceed 40 Degrees in Scorching Heat

As the scorching heat continues day after day, labor organizations in the Gyeongnam region have begun calling for measures to address the situation and to guarantee workers' right to rest.

On July 2, the Gyeongnam Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference in front of the Changwon branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, stating, "Due to climate change, the duration of the scorching heat is increasing, posing a serious threat to the lives and health of workers," and demanding, "Guarantee the right to rest for workers laboring in the heat."

They pointed out, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor's recommendations for managing heatwave-related risks do not reflect reality, and in workplaces, there are neither preventive programs nor standards for proper rest or air conditioning to manage the risks of heatwaves."

They also claimed, "Even the proposal to allow a 20-minute break after every two hours of work during a heatwave warning was rejected by the Presidential Regulatory Reform Committee."

The Gyeongnam Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is holding a press conference urging the establishment of practical safety measures related to the scorching heat and calling for the Ministry of Employment and Labor to supervise workplaces. Photo by Lee Seryung

They went on to emphasize, "Adjusting work and rest times is essential to control heat," and stressed, "Rest periods must be mandatory depending on temperature and location."

They demanded: ▲ the provision of rest periods per hour ▲ mandatory installation of air conditioning and ventilation equipment in workplaces ▲ improvement of regulations to halt all work at certain temperatures ▲ supervision and inspection by the Ministry of Employment and Labor at workplaces exposed to heatwave risks.

Kim Taesu, head of the Shinheung branch of the Busan-Gyeongnam chapter of the Chemical Fiber and Food Workers' Union, said, "I work at a motorcycle tire factory, and while the temperature starts at 36 degrees Celsius around 8 a.m., it sometimes exceeds 40 degrees at midday. Every summer, we face record-breaking heatwaves, but the company repeatedly cites cost issues and the nature of the production process as reasons for not providing fundamental solutions. Safety measures for workers against heatwaves are urgently needed."

According to the union, there are an estimated 1,682,825 workplaces in Korea where workers are exposed to heatwaves, with approximately 2,818,722 workers at risk.

Over the past three years, the start dates of heatwaves in the Gyeongnam region have been July 12, 2022, June 19, 2023, and June 14, 2024, showing a trend of occurring earlier each year.

The union stated, "According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), climate change exposes 70% of the global workforce to heatwaves, resulting in 2,285 injuries and 18,970 deaths annually," and called for "the establishment of effective measures to allow workers to work for shorter periods and rest adequately during extreme heat, as well as the guarantee of places to rest and the right to rest."