New Gyeonggi Regional Employment and Labor Office Established
Ulsan Eastern Branch Office and Employment Center to Open
The Ministry of Employment and Labor has decided to add 700 more labor inspectors through an organizational restructuring. With this additional increase, the number of inspectors has risen by a total of 1,000 this year alone. The ministry also plans to add another 1,000 inspectors next year.
On December 23, the government held a Cabinet meeting at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries building in Busan, where it reviewed and approved the "Organization of the Ministry of Employment and Labor and Its Affiliated Agencies," which includes these changes.
Through this restructuring, the Ministry of Employment and Labor will add 700 labor inspectors. Including the emergency addition of 300 industrial safety inspectors in August, the total increase for this year amounts to 1,000 inspectors.
The ministry also plans to add another 1,000 labor inspectors next year. Including the 1,000 added this year, the workforce will increase by a total of 2,000 compared to the previous staffing levels.
An official from the ministry stated, "This year's increase is an ad hoc addition, while next year's will be a regular increase. Since the staffing quota has been expanded, we will be able to bring in new personnel in phases."
Based on the expanded inspector workforce, the ministry plans to increase the number of workplace inspections from 54,000 sites last year to 140,000 sites by 2027.
Additionally, to establish a control tower for labor administration in Gyeonggi Province-which accounts for one-fourth of the country’s businesses and population and has the highest number of industrial accidents-the Gyeonggi Regional Employment and Labor Office will be newly established.
To provide employment and labor administration services tailored to the industrial characteristics of the eastern Ulsan region, such as shipbuilding and automobile manufacturing, the Ulsan Eastern Branch Office and Ulsan Eastern Employment Center will also be established.
In consideration of the major industries in the northwestern region of South Chungcheong Province, such as power generation and petrochemicals, the Seosan Branch Office will be upgraded to the Seosan Regional Office.
Labor offices nationwide will also expand by adding 40 departments and teams responsible for industrial safety and major accident investigations, as well as 39 departments dedicated to labor inspection, thereby strengthening both preventive supervision and investigative functions.
Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon stated, "We will promptly recruit the increased personnel, enhance their job competencies, and focus on intensive inspections and proactive supervision of vulnerable sectors such as construction and small businesses, as well as on prevention and preemptive oversight."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
