The government established a pan-government consultative body on the 9th to take steps to create comprehensive measures for workplace safety against industrial accidents.
On the same day, the Ministry of Employment held the first meeting of the pan-government consultative body, chaired by Vice Minister Kwon Chang-jun, at the Government Seoul Building. This meeting was a response to President Lee Jae-myung's directive during the Cabinet meeting on July 5th and on the 7th to prepare measures related to industrial safety accidents.
Attendees included Vice Minister Kwon and senior officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Fair Trade Commission, Korea Forest Service, and the National Fire Agency.
Participants in the meeting discussed the fundamental causes of the persistent industrial accidents and the key policy tasks of each ministry that should be included in the comprehensive measures.
Vice Minister Kwon Chang-jun noted, "The causes of industrial accidents are not only technical factors but also a combination of various structural factors, such as corporate management, employment structure, and ways of working," and added, "To fundamentally resolve this, we must prepare solutions to problems arising from the governance structure, including the relationship between primary and subcontractor contracts, as well as regulatory support from a technical aspect."
He further stated, "We will thoroughly identify the causes of accidents to prevent the occurrence of third-world-style industrial accidents and mobilize the entire government's capabilities to create comprehensive measures that allow everyone to work safely."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Employment conducted on-site inspections targeting business sites at high-risk industries for heat waves, such as construction, shipbuilding, and logistics. They will check compliance with the five basic rules for heat safety, including providing breaks of more than 20 minutes within every 2 hours when working in temperatures above 33 degrees.