73 years after the central government took charge of labor inspections, local governments will now participate. Starting in December, leading local governments such as Gyeonggi and Jeju will begin workplace inspections, with the government planning to enhance the expertise of local labor inspectors through the dispatch of central inspectors and the establishment of training and IT systems.
On September 10, the Ministry of Employment and Labor held the first meeting of the 'National Labor Inspection Council,' announcing the 'Establishment and Implementation Plan for Local Government Labor Inspection System.' This plan outlines the preparations needed for local governments to conduct labor inspections ahead of the December 8 implementation of the 'Labor Inspector Job Execution Act' and clarifies the division of roles between central and local authorities.
The meeting included Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon, along with deputy heads from 16 cities and provinces, and officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who reviewed the readiness of local governments.
The National Labor Inspection Council is the first statutory body where central and local governments discuss labor inspections together. It will select the targets for delegation of inspection authority, discuss uniform application of labor standards and health and safety criteria, and explore ways to strengthen the capabilities of local labor inspectors.
Since the enactment of the Labor Standards Act in 1953, the labor inspection system has been under the central government’s purview, marking a significant shift to a joint system with local governments after 73 years.
In April, the government established the Labor Inspector Job Execution Act to provide a legal basis for local government labor inspections. Gyeonggi and Jeju signed agreements for collaborative inspections in January and July, respectively. In May, the 'Regional Labor Inspection Council' was formed, involving local labor offices from nine regions and local governments, which has since conducted joint inspections and consultations.
The implementation plan divides the necessary tasks for local labor inspections into three pillars: 'Preparation, Cooperation, and Execution.'
First, the qualifications and appointment procedures for local labor inspectors, as well as the scope of delegated authority, will be specified in subordinate regulations. A 'Local Labor Inspector Duty Regulation' containing detailed inspection criteria is also set to be established next month.
Efforts will also be made to expand personnel. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will support the prompt deployment of 120 local labor inspectors, as designated this year. Training focused on practical exercises will be conducted for new inspectors over eight weeks from October to November, and local inspectors will participate in specialized training provided by the Ministry of Labor.
An IT infrastructure will be established, with plans to build a labor information system by November to enable local governments to commence inspections within the year. A dedicated system for local governments and a mobile inspection checklist are planned for development next year. The capacity of local governments to perform delegated tasks will be assessed starting next year, with joint evaluations by the government to begin in 2028.
Support measures will also be implemented to compensate for the initial lack of field experience among local inspectors. Veteran central labor inspectors will be dispatched to each city and province to oversee and guide the inspection and investigation processes. When local inspectors conduct their first workplace inspections, they will be accompanied by inspectors from the relevant local labor office to assist in the field.
The selection of workplaces for inspection will be determined by plans prepared by the cities and provinces, reviewed by the Regional Labor Inspection Council, and finalized by the National Labor Inspection Council. In cases of urgent inspections needed due to social issues or industrial accidents, the targets for inspection may be added or changed.
During workplace inspections, particular attention will be paid to issues directly related to workers' rights, such as wage arrears. Checklists and evaluation criteria will be utilized to reduce regional disparities in inspections, and support will be provided to small businesses to ensure compliance with labor laws and establish labor management systems.
A support system for investigations necessary for local inspectors performing special judicial police duties will also be established. A three-tiered support system will be implemented, involving 'dispatch of central inspectors - support from local labor offices - guidance and advice from prosecutors,' and a 'referral application system' will be introduced to transfer complex cases that local governments cannot handle to the relevant local labor office.
Gyeonggi and Jeju are preparing to begin workplace inspections on December 8, coinciding with the law's implementation. Jeju established a dedicated labor inspection department, the 'Labor Safety Inspector,' on August 25, becoming the first local government in the country to do so. Gyeonggi Province plans to recruit 170 local inspectors and has already enrolled 10 prospective inspectors in training with the Ministry of Labor last month.
Minister Kim Young-hoon stated, "The purpose of local government inspections is not to penalize small businesses but to prevent legal violations and support the establishment of labor management systems. We will do our utmost to ensure that local governments' preventive inspections contribute to eliminating blind spots in workplace safety in the region."
On September 10, the Ministry of Employment and Labor held the first meeting of the 'National Labor Inspection Council,' announcing the 'Establishment and Implementation Plan for Local Government Labor Inspection System.' This plan outlines the preparations needed for local governments to conduct labor inspections ahead of the December 8 implementation of the 'Labor Inspector Job Execution Act' and clarifies the division of roles between central and local authorities.
The meeting included Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon, along with deputy heads from 16 cities and provinces, and officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who reviewed the readiness of local governments.
The National Labor Inspection Council is the first statutory body where central and local governments discuss labor inspections together. It will select the targets for delegation of inspection authority, discuss uniform application of labor standards and health and safety criteria, and explore ways to strengthen the capabilities of local labor inspectors.
Since the enactment of the Labor Standards Act in 1953, the labor inspection system has been under the central government’s purview, marking a significant shift to a joint system with local governments after 73 years.
In April, the government established the Labor Inspector Job Execution Act to provide a legal basis for local government labor inspections. Gyeonggi and Jeju signed agreements for collaborative inspections in January and July, respectively. In May, the 'Regional Labor Inspection Council' was formed, involving local labor offices from nine regions and local governments, which has since conducted joint inspections and consultations.
The implementation plan divides the necessary tasks for local labor inspections into three pillars: 'Preparation, Cooperation, and Execution.'
First, the qualifications and appointment procedures for local labor inspectors, as well as the scope of delegated authority, will be specified in subordinate regulations. A 'Local Labor Inspector Duty Regulation' containing detailed inspection criteria is also set to be established next month.
Efforts will also be made to expand personnel. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will support the prompt deployment of 120 local labor inspectors, as designated this year. Training focused on practical exercises will be conducted for new inspectors over eight weeks from October to November, and local inspectors will participate in specialized training provided by the Ministry of Labor.
An IT infrastructure will be established, with plans to build a labor information system by November to enable local governments to commence inspections within the year. A dedicated system for local governments and a mobile inspection checklist are planned for development next year. The capacity of local governments to perform delegated tasks will be assessed starting next year, with joint evaluations by the government to begin in 2028.
Support measures will also be implemented to compensate for the initial lack of field experience among local inspectors. Veteran central labor inspectors will be dispatched to each city and province to oversee and guide the inspection and investigation processes. When local inspectors conduct their first workplace inspections, they will be accompanied by inspectors from the relevant local labor office to assist in the field.
The selection of workplaces for inspection will be determined by plans prepared by the cities and provinces, reviewed by the Regional Labor Inspection Council, and finalized by the National Labor Inspection Council. In cases of urgent inspections needed due to social issues or industrial accidents, the targets for inspection may be added or changed.
During workplace inspections, particular attention will be paid to issues directly related to workers' rights, such as wage arrears. Checklists and evaluation criteria will be utilized to reduce regional disparities in inspections, and support will be provided to small businesses to ensure compliance with labor laws and establish labor management systems.
A support system for investigations necessary for local inspectors performing special judicial police duties will also be established. A three-tiered support system will be implemented, involving 'dispatch of central inspectors - support from local labor offices - guidance and advice from prosecutors,' and a 'referral application system' will be introduced to transfer complex cases that local governments cannot handle to the relevant local labor office.
Gyeonggi and Jeju are preparing to begin workplace inspections on December 8, coinciding with the law's implementation. Jeju established a dedicated labor inspection department, the 'Labor Safety Inspector,' on August 25, becoming the first local government in the country to do so. Gyeonggi Province plans to recruit 170 local inspectors and has already enrolled 10 prospective inspectors in training with the Ministry of Labor last month.
Minister Kim Young-hoon stated, "The purpose of local government inspections is not to penalize small businesses but to prevent legal violations and support the establishment of labor management systems. We will do our utmost to ensure that local governments' preventive inspections contribute to eliminating blind spots in workplace safety in the region."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.