Mandatory 20-Minute Rest Every 2 Hours During Heatwaves to Take Effect on the 17th

When Working in Heat Above 35 Degrees Celsius,
Employers Must Provide 15-Minute Rest Breaks Every Hour

The Ministry of Employment and Labor will implement the revised 'Rules on Occupational Safety and Health Standards' starting July 17, 2025, to protect the lives and health of workers laboring under extreme heat conditions.

This revision formally incorporates into the rules the employer obligations regarding health measures?such as installing cooling and ventilation systems and providing rest?which had previously been operated as guidelines since the amendment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in October 2024 and throughout last summer. The revision aims to strengthen the rights of workers to rest and to health while working in intense heat.

Going forward, when workers are engaged in tasks for more than two hours at workplaces where the perceived temperature is 31 degrees Celsius or higher, employers must install and operate cooling and ventilation systems, regardless of whether the work is indoors or outdoors. Employers must also implement at least one of the following measures: adjusting work hours to reduce heat exposure or providing regular rest breaks.

At workplaces where the perceived temperature is 33 degrees Celsius or higher, employers must provide at least a 20-minute rest every two hours. Depending on site conditions, it is also possible to provide a 10-minute rest every hour or apply other flexible arrangements.

However, exceptions are allowed for tasks where it is difficult to provide rest, such as emergency response work directly related to saving lives or urgent measures to address unexpected situations. In such cases, if employers provide and operate personal cooling devices to lower workers' body temperature, or supply and require the use of personal cooling gear such as cooling clothing, the exception will be recognized.

To prevent heat-related illnesses, beverages such as salt and water must be provided at locations where workers sweat heavily during work. If a worker engaged in heat-exposed tasks shows or is suspected of showing symptoms of heat-related illness, such as headache, dizziness, or muscle cramps, it must be reported immediately to 119.

For work conducted in heat of 35 degrees Celsius or higher, employers must provide 15 minutes of rest in a designated rest area every hour, and, except in unavoidable cases, outdoor work must be suspended during peak heat hours (14:00 to 17:00). It is also necessary to designate a person responsible for monitoring workers' health conditions.

When temperatures exceed 38 degrees Celsius, employers must provide 15 minutes of rest in a designated rest area every hour, and, except for emergency response work required for disaster and safety management, outdoor work must be suspended during peak heat hours. It is also necessary to restrict outdoor work for workers who are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke.

The government plans to strengthen unannounced guidance and inspections to ensure the revised rules are observed in the field. From July 21, 2025, to September 30, 2025, the government will check compliance with the 'Five Major Heatwave Safety Rules' and the obligation to install rest facilities at approximately 4,000 high-risk workplaces, including those where cases of heat-related illness (or suspected cases) have occurred, those reported for legal violations, and workplaces in construction, shipbuilding, logistics, courier services, and those employing large numbers of migrant workers.

Any violations of the law discovered during guidance and inspections will be corrected and improved immediately. In the event of a serious accident caused by heatstroke, work at the site will be suspended and an investigation into violations of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act will be conducted.

Vice Minister Kwon Changjun of the Ministry of Employment and Labor stated, "As this is the first year of implementation, we will mobilize all administrative resources to ensure that the revised rules?such as providing at least 20 minutes of rest every two hours?are thoroughly observed in the field," adding, "We will work closely with local governments to ensure that mobile workers and others are not left out, and will make every effort to protect all workers from extreme heat."