With regional labor inspections set to begin in December, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has urged 16 provinces and cities to expedite the deployment of inspectors and participation in training.
On July 27, the ministry announced during a Central-Local Policy Council meeting at the Government Seoul Complex that it had presented an agenda related to the implementation of local labor inspections. At this meeting, the ministry requested cooperation from vice mayors and other officials in the 16 regions to ensure smooth preparations.
The regional labor inspections will commence on December 8 with the enforcement of the Labor Inspector Job Execution Act. Leading local governments, such as Gyeonggi Province, are already recruiting inspectors with the goal of starting inspections by the end of the year, and they are also working on establishing inspection organizations and deploying personnel.
However, considering the internal procedures of local governments, such as ordinance amendments and the training period for inspectors, the timeline for starting inspections by the end of the year is tight. Therefore, the ministry has requested the rapid deployment of 120 local labor inspectors, who have been prioritized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and urged them to participate in training scheduled for October.
The ministry also called for participation in joint inspections by region and consulting for small business owners. During the meeting, the enhancement of local government roles in protecting workers from extreme heat was also discussed.
Earlier, on July 23, the ministry held a workshop attended by over 100 officials from local governments and local labor offices. This workshop focused on strategies for advancing local labor inspections, sharing best practices from Gyeonggi Province, and reviewing regional cooperation matters.
As the regional labor inspection system represents a shift from a central government-focused labor administration, its initial establishment is crucial. The supervision of labor standards and industrial safety involves complex legal interpretations and on-site judgments, differing from simple administrative checks.
It is particularly important to consider that if local governments proceed with inspections without sufficient training and practical experience, it could lead to significant regional disparities and confusion on-site. Even with the deployment of 120 local labor inspectors, ensuring effective on-site inspection capabilities will require ongoing joint inspections, consulting, and sharing of guidelines between central and local authorities after training.
Lee Hyun-ok, head of the Labor Policy Office at the Ministry of Employment and Labor, stated, "The success of the 9th elected term's labor administration depends on how closely the central and local governments can cooperate. The ministry will also support the preparation process and address any challenges together with local governments as a united team."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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