[Exclusive] Two Out of Three Heatwave Rule Violators Are Small Workplaces with Fewer Than 50 Employees... Basic Obligations Ignored

711 Workplaces Found with 794 Violations
Construction and Manufacturing Account for 75%
Widespread Disregard for Safety Confirmed

The government has conducted its first inspections and supervision this year for violations of heatwave safety and health regulations, and it was found that two out of three workplaces found in violation were small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Most of these workplaces failed to implement even basic safety measures, such as providing thermohygrometers or recording perceived temperature.

According to data received by Assemblywoman Jeong Hyekyung of the Progressive Party from the Ministry of Employment and Labor on October 10, a total of 794 violations were detected at 711 workplaces between July 17 and August 31, 2025. By business size, 470 of these workplaces-accounting for 66.1%-were small businesses with fewer than 50 employees.

By industry, the construction sector had the most violations with 276 cases (38.8%), followed by manufacturing with 261 cases (36.7%), agriculture and forestry with 59 cases (8.2%), transportation and warehousing with 46 cases (6.4%), facility management with 28 cases (3.9%), and wholesale and retail with 27 cases (3.7%).

In terms of violation types, failure to implement basic measures such as providing hygrometers, education, and recording perceived temperature was overwhelmingly the most common, with 604 cases. This was followed by 45 cases of violations related to measuring perceived temperature, 41 cases of failing to provide rest breaks, 37 cases of not supplying beverages or salt, 35 cases of failing to implement health measures during heatwaves, 31 cases of not providing shaded rest areas, and 1 case of inadequate emergency (119) reporting systems.

These findings highlight the urgent need to ensure workers’ actual safety. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, all workplaces, regardless of type or size, are required to install rest facilities. Failure to provide such facilities can result in fines of up to 15 million won, while non-compliance with installation and management standards regarding size, location, temperature, and lighting can lead to fines of up to 10 million won. However, with only 722 inspectors available, limitations in administrative capacity and the scope of inspections have also been pointed out as challenges that need to be addressed.

Previously, in July, the Ministry of Employment and Labor began conducting unannounced guidance and inspections focused on approximately 4,000 high-risk workplaces to ensure the effective implementation of the revised Occupational Safety and Health Standards. The revision specifically outlines the health measures that employers must take to protect the lives and health of workers during heatwaves. The five basic rules are: providing cool drinking water, air conditioning, rest breaks (at least 20 minutes every two hours), supplying cooling gear, and establishing emergency (119) reporting systems.

Lee Byunghoon, Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Chung-Ang University, stated, "This inspection has revealed the widespread lack of safety awareness at industrial sites. It confirmed that the practice of neglecting even basic safety protocols is especially prevalent among small and medium-sized businesses." He emphasized, "Heatwave regulations must become firmly established norms at worksites. Employers should recognize these as basic obligations, and workers should see them as their rights, so that society as a whole can change."