The government has decided to impose penalty surcharges on corporations that have caused repetitive and serious accidents to eradicate industrial accidents, along with strong sanctions such as public bidding restrictions. The plan is to promote a shift to a wage system based on job and value, as well as to legislate the principle of 'equal pay for equal work' to resolve structural disparities in the labor market.
In the new administration's economic policy direction 'Economic Growth Strategy' announced on the 22nd, the government presented 'a fair and safe labor market' as one of the key tasks to be prioritized over the next five years.
◇ The employment insurance system will be changed to an 'income-based' model.
The government plans to establish a job-centered wage system and legislate the principle of equal pay for equal work. To transparently disclose wage distribution information based on job, position, and years of service, a large-scale survey will be conducted starting in the second half of next year, and relevant statistics will be provided regularly. This aims to induce the resolution of wage discrimination among workers and the establishment of a fair compensation system.
To support wage increases for workers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized enterprises, the earned income tax credit will also be extended until 2028. In addition, the range of advance payments for unpaid wages occurring at business sites in bankruptcy will be expanded from the current 'final three months of wages.'
Legislation to protect so-called 'non-regular workers', including delivery drivers, visiting salespeople, freelancers, and platform workers, will also be pursued. The government plans to enact the 'Basic Law for the Protection of Workplace Rights of All Workers' to institutionally guarantee the rights of workers in legal blind spots.
The employment insurance system will also be converted to an income-based model. Until now, the application, collection, and payment systems have operated based on working hours, resulting in many blind spots in employment insurance; however, the plan is to switch to an income-based system to establish a more robust safety net.
Additionally, the 'Employment Insurance Experience Rate System' will be introduced to improve the short-term employment practice. This will be a system that imposes additional employment insurance premiums based on indicators such as the amount of unemployment benefits paid, serving as a mechanism to encourage job stability for corporations.
Improving the original and subcontractor relationship is cited as a key task to resolve the dual structure of the labor market. The government is promoting amendments to the Trade Union Act that will strengthen the user responsibilities and obligations of primary companies towards subcontracted workers. By ensuring that primary companies take substantial responsibility for the working conditions and safety issues of subcontracted workers, the aim is to reduce unfair structures and safety blind spots.
◇ The government takes a 'sharp' approach to penalty surcharges and bidding restrictions on repeat industrial accident business sites.
The government will significantly expand the scope of safety and health systems to eradicate industrial accidents. The Labor Safety and Health Act will be applied to include non-regular workers and platform workers, and the 'Safety and Health Disclosure System' will be gradually introduced starting with large-scale business sites.
A unified safety and health management system for primary and subcontractors will also be newly established. Currently, only labor and management from primary companies participate in the Industrial Safety and Health Committee, but in the future, participation will be expanded to include labor and management from subcontractors to create a collaborative safety management system. The contracting party and primary companies will be required to allocate safety and health management costs, and the plan is to extend this to industries beyond construction.
As part of proactive risk prevention, support for essential equipment and safety personnel will also be expanded. The workers' authority to stop work will be strengthened, and the reinforcement of nighttime labor rules will also be considered. In the event of a major accident, measures will be taken to make disaster investigation opinions public and to introduce a system for honorary industrial safety inspectors to participate in special supervision.
Compensation for industrial accidents will also be further strengthened. After filing for industrial accident compensation, benefits for medical care and leave will be prioritized, and the scope of presumed occupational diseases will be expanded, focusing on occupations with high occurrence frequencies.
A system will be established to impose penalty surcharges on business sites where multiple fatal accidents occur repeatedly due to violations of safety and health measures. Corporations that cause serious accidents will also face increased disadvantages, such as requests for business suspensions and limitations on public bidding participation.
In public contract bidding evaluations, a new item will be established that imposes point deductions for serious accident violations. The safety management performance of corporations will also be reflected in ESG evaluations, directly impacting investment decisions by institutional investors. If the obligation for risk assessment related to harmful and dangerous factors is violated, measures will be established beyond the level of fines to enhance effectiveness.