[Exclusive] "Three Days of Heatwave Advisory Means at Least Three Days of Paid Leave"... 'Extreme Heat Leave Recommendation Act' Proposed

Kim Mi-ae of People Power Party Prepares Amendment to Labor Standards Act
Government to Support Labor Costs for Small Businesses

The People Power Party is moving forward with legislation to guarantee paid leave for workers during periods of extreme heat. To enhance the effectiveness of this measure, the plan includes government support for labor costs in small businesses that lack substitute workers.

According to political sources on July 11, Kim Mi-ae, a member of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee and the People Power Party's secretary, submitted a partial amendment to the Labor Standards Act, a partial amendment to the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises, and a request for review to the Legislative Office the previous day. With industrial sites on high alert due to the ongoing heatwave, the party plans to officially propose the bill within this month.

As an unprecedented heatwave rages, the daytime temperature in Seoul surpassed 35 degrees Celsius on the afternoon of July 10. Citizens wearing sun hats walk through Insadong, Seoul, under the intense sun. 2025.7.10 Photo by Cho Yongjun

The proposed amendment recommends that, when a heatwave advisory issued by the Korea Meteorological Administration lasts for three or more consecutive days, employers should provide workers with at least three days of paid leave in addition to their annual paid leave. It also stipulates that, if business owners with ten or fewer regular employees or with annual sales of ten billion won or less implement paid leave during the extreme heat period, the government may provide support for labor costs.

The current Labor Standards Act does not contain provisions for protecting workers during periods of extreme heat, so the granting of related leave is left to the discretion of employers. In particular, small businesses often lack substitute workers due to their staffing structure, making it realistically difficult to provide summer leave.

Explaining the background of the legislative initiative, Representative Kim stated, "Deaths and industrial accidents caused by heat-related illnesses are rapidly increasing during the summer," and added, "By having the government share the burden of labor costs during periods of extreme heat, we can effectively guarantee workers' rights to life and health, while also promoting management stability for small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed business owners."