The Democratic Party of Korea officially launched a task force (TF) for the prevention of industrial accidents and has begun to derive legislative tasks to enhance the effectiveness of the Serious Accident Punishment Act and address blind spots in industrial accidents.
On the 28th, the Democratic Party held the 'Inauguration Ceremony and First Meeting of the Industrial Accident Prevention TF' at the National Assembly and revealed its activity plan for the next year.
The TF plans to conduct a field survey of the industrial site and hold discussions from next month until October, then identify legislative tasks and process bills from November to June next year. As President Lee Jae-myung has repeatedly emphasized the need for measures to prevent the recurrence of industrial accidents, the party aims to create system improvement plans to support the government.
Kim Byeong-ki, the acting party leader and floor leader, attended the inauguration ceremony and said, "We must establish a system for occupational safety and health and urgently overhaul the outdated industrial accident prevention system," asking the TF to prepare measures to eradicate industrial accidents that workers can feel through field-centered activities.
The TF plans to focus on key tasks such as ▲enhancing the effectiveness of the Serious Accident Punishment Act ▲improving the subcontracting structure and strengthening the responsibilities of primary contractors ▲establishing measures to protect vulnerable workers ▲conducting field-centered safety inspections and spreading industrial safety culture ▲establishing a roadmap for legislative and system improvements ▲utilizing retired workers.
The Democratic Party plans to derive practical improvement measures, considering the ongoing 'effectiveness controversy' regarding the Serious Accident Punishment Act, which has entered its third year since implementation, based on the results of the survey, including addressing blind spots in the application of the law. Additionally, the policy aims to establish a prevention-centered industrial safety system rather than focusing on punishing corporations.
Kim Joo-young, a member of the Democratic Party and the Director General of the Environment and Labor Committee of the National Assembly, emphasized that "Three years have passed since the Serious Accident Punishment Act came into effect, yet many workers still cannot return from work," stating that Korea must shed its reputation as having the highest rates of 'industrial accident occurrence and mortality' among countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for over 20 years. He also noted, "The TF will visit industrial sites to face the reality directly and make every effort to ensure that their voices are reflected in system improvements."
Lee Jeong-moon, the senior vice chairperson of the policy committee, also mentioned the need for improvements to the Serious Accident Punishment Act, stating, "I will prepare more proactively to address the institutional shortcomings to ensure that vulnerable workers, platform workers, special employment, and non-employed individuals do not suffer injuries or fatalities in the workplace."