The South Korean government will mandate safety and health training for foreign workers immediately upon their arrival in the country to reduce workplace accidents. Additionally, it will expand the electronic card system to enhance transparency in managing construction site personnel.
The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced on June 18 that the National Assembly approved amendments to the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Act on the Improvement of Employment for Construction Workers.
Under the revised Occupational Safety and Health Act, foreign workers will now receive basic safety and health training before being assigned to workplaces. Previously, foreign workers relied on safety training conducted by employers after their placement, which was often limited by language barriers.
The proportion of foreign workers has significantly increased in the manufacturing and construction sectors. According to Statistics Korea, the number of foreign workers in the country has surpassed 1 million, with many employed in industries with high risks of workplace accidents. The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency and the Ministry of Labor have also noted that the accident rate among foreign workers is relatively high.
The government aims to prevent workplace accidents by ensuring that foreign workers receive fundamental training on safety rules and working conditions before they begin their jobs.
Additionally, the amendments will exempt certain import approval procedures under the Occupational Safety and Health Act for substances prohibited under the Chemical Substances Control Act when imported for testing, research, or inspection purposes. Impersonation of safety training institutions will be prohibited, with fines of up to 5 million won for violations.
The amendments to the Act on the Improvement of Employment for Construction Workers include improvements to the electronic card system, which manages the attendance records of construction workers electronically. This system was introduced to more accurately track working days and retirement fund contributions. The new law will require employers to install devices for this system, with fines of up to 3 million won for non-compliance.
The Ministry of Labor stated, "We plan to prepare subordinate regulations and actively promote the revised laws to ensure their smooth implementation in the field."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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