On the 25th, 허영인, chairman of SPC Group, said, "It is difficult to make an immediate transition, but I am well aware of the measures to prevent the recurrence of industrial accidents," and promised to gradually reform the 12-hour shift work system for day and night.
On this day, at the "Severe Industrial Accident Business Site Meeting" held at SPC Samlip's Siheung factory in Gyeonggi Province, 허영인 responded to President Lee Jae-myung's remarks that the 12-hour shift work system for day and night is the cause of repeated industrial accidents. This factory recently experienced a worker fatality.
At the meeting, President Lee focused on the long working hours pointed out as the background for SPC's frequent fatal industrial accidents. He continued to ask related questions such as, "What time did the accident happen?", "Was the deceased worker working alone?", "What shift was it?", and "Was there no one next to him?" He also told 허영인 and the management of SPC Samlip, "If you don't know, just say you don't know."
President Lee told 허영인 and the management of SPC Samlip, "Switching from 12-hour work to an 8-hour 3-shift could be more efficient," and added, "Let's come up with practical and specific measures to reduce industrial accident fatalities." In response, 김범수, CEO of SPC Samlip, stated, "If we operate at night, there will be (overtime) expenses, which is indeed a higher cost for corporations," adding that he will discuss wages through collective bargaining.
In addition to improving working conditions, SPC intends to overhaul the company-wide safety management system. 김범수 stated, "We will establish a compliance committee and strengthen the labor-management safety council to build safety governance, and we will not spare investments in equipment automation and line maintenance. We are determined to thoroughly renew safety management with a resolute spirit."
허영인 also said, "It seems there are many issues that need to be reviewed as the President mentioned," and added, "It is a bit difficult to plan improvements immediately, but we will try to do it step by step." In response, President Lee said, "Those managing the company worry about whether it might go bankrupt and what the economic situation will be, while on the other hand, they should also be anxious about protecting workers from death or injury."
Moreover, President Lee remarked, "I am also a former worker and a victim of industrial accidents, and despite several decades passing, there are still too many workers dying on the job. If safety and lives are sacrificed for money, it must really change."
Meanwhile, attending the meeting were Minister of Employment and Labor 김영훈, 대통령실 Policy Chief 김용범, and Social Chief 문진영, who is a former railway worker. From the corporate side, 허영인 and 김범수 were present, along with 강희석, the head of CJ Foodville's 음성 plant, 이정현, head of Crown Confectionery's Daejeon plant, and labor representatives such as 김인혁, chairman of the SPC Samlip labor union, and on-site workers from SPC Samlip.