As it became known that the head of a manufacturing company in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, sprayed an air gun at a foreign worker and injured internal organs, the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) launched a joint plan on industrial safety and labor.
On the 7th, the ministry said it would look not only into assaults and workplace bullying against foreign workers but also into possible violations of labor-related laws, including unpaid wages.
The ministry also plans to check for violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, such as concealing the occurrence of industrial accidents and failing to implement safety and health measures. In addition, if serious legal violations are confirmed, it said it will take stern action, including canceling or restricting employment permits and pursuing criminal proceedings.
The victim was reported to have applied for industrial accident medical care benefits on the day to the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service (K-COMWEL) Hwaseong branch. The ministry said it will promptly process industrial accident compensation under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act.
Meanwhile, starting this month, the ministry has also been conducting joint inspections covering the full range of labor-related laws by independently selecting business sites with large numbers of foreign workers where violations are suspected. It also plans to closely examine whether there is workplace bullying and assault by conducting surveys and interviews with foreign workers.
Minister Kim Young-hoon said, "All workers, regardless of nationality or immigration status, have the right to safety and dignity," adding, "We sincerely apologize to the injured foreign worker and the colleague workers, and we will thoroughly investigate the truth of the incident and take stern action."