[Reporter’s Notebook] SPC Must Stop Pushing Workers to the Brink

On August 5, Mr. Kim (56, male), who works at a factory affiliated with SPC Group, shook his head as he talked about the working conditions. The faces of the workers, many of whom are women over 40-a higher proportion than in other manufacturing sectors-were marked by fatigue, helplessness, and a sense of defeat. For them, the burden of providing for their families weighed even heavier than the grueling two-shift system and 12-hour workdays. "People here say, 'Where else could we earn 3 million won a month?' We have no choice but to do whatever the company tells us," he said.

Over the past three years, three women have died in machine entrapment accidents at SPC factories (Reference article: Lives Swallowed by Relentless Machines). To eliminate even the slightest suspicion that the victims might have made a mistake, a thorough analysis was conducted. Records related to the three accidents, worker testimonies, and input from engineering and medical experts confirmed that the victims were working on machines that crushed their bodies and that they died because proper safety devices were not in place.

Dangerous machinery and inadequate safety measures were the core causes of the repeated fatal machine entrapment accidents at the bakery factory. What drove workers into these hazardous machines was not only the atmosphere that discouraged stopping work even when a problem occurred, but also the excessive and concentrated workload and the relentless pressure to meet production targets. Workers unanimously testified, "Even the team leader cannot stop the machine." In the end, it was the overwhelming workload that forced workers into harm's way.

In July, President Lee Jaemyung visited the SPC Samlip Siwha factory in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, and pointed out the issues of long and overnight working hours. When an SPC official failed to answer his questions properly, President Lee told him, "If you don't know, just say you don't know," which resonated with the public. His proactive stance on industrial accident issues is commendable. However, President Lee also failed to address the fundamental issue: the sheer volume of work that would be impossible to handle unless one were superhuman. After his visit, anxiety rather than relief spread among workers at the SPC factory, as they worried that a reduction in working hours might simply mean an even greater concentration of work within a shorter period.

Following President Lee's stern warning, SPC is now focusing on resolving the issue of long and overnight working hours, including abolishing overtime shifts that exceed eight hours for production workers. However, regarding issues such as the right to stop work and other factors contributing to excessive workloads, the company merely stated that discussions are ongoing, without providing concrete answers. At this rate, it will be difficult to solve the fundamental problem. It is time to move away from a mindset that prioritizes profit over people and production volume over safety, and to present real solutions. There is no longer any room to push these workers any further.