"More Urgent Than Life Itself: Daily Workers Relate Deeply to the 'Icheon Fire Accident'"

Fire at a Logistics Warehouse in Icheon, Gyeonggi on the 29th of Last Month... 38 Dead
Most Victims Were 'Day Laborers'... Adding to the Tragedy
Day Laborers Say, "We Come Out Because We Need Money Immediately, So We Have No Choice but to Be Careful Ourselves"

On the afternoon of the 4th, workers are riding an elevator at a construction site in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yeonju Kim, Intern yeonju1853@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and intern Yeonju Kim] #Han Mo (61), a day laborer working at a construction site in Incheon, injured his back after falling from a work ladder three months ago. However, he has been unable to receive treatment due to difficulties in processing industrial accident claims and the lack of personal insurance. Moreover, because he cannot afford to quit his job immediately, he continues to work at the site despite the worsening pain in his back. Han said, "I can't even think about getting treatment because hospital bills are a burden, and I can't rest. How can I rest when I live day by day?" He added, "Most people at the site think that if you get hurt, you can't work right away, so it's your own loss."

#Hwang Mo (58), a day laborer working at a construction site in Sejong City, said the recent fire accident at a logistics warehouse site in Icheon did not feel like someone else's problem. This is because dangers that could cause accidents lurk throughout the work site. Having worked as a day laborer for nearly 20 years, Hwang has witnessed several casualties. He said, "Scrapes and bruises happen too frequently, and due to the high work intensity and dangerous environment, hardly anyone remains unscathed. It's an environment where it's not surprising to get injured anywhere or in any way. News about accidents at construction sites is no longer shocking."

On the 29th of last month, a fire accident at a new logistics warehouse construction site in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, claimed the lives of about 38 people, bringing the long-standing issue of safety nets for site workers back into the spotlight. Furthermore, among the 38 confirmed dead, 29 identities were verified, and a significant number were day laborers hired by electrical, painting, and equipment companies. Additionally, three foreigners?one Chinese and two Kazakhstani?were confirmed among the deceased, adding to the tragedy.

On the afternoon of the 30th of last month, bereaved families were seen crying at the joint memorial altar set up at the Icheon Logistics Warehouse construction site fire at Seohui Youth Culture Center in Icheon-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

Given this situation, among day laborers, there are self-deprecating voices saying they work risking their lives. However, requests for double or triple safety nets at construction sites are beyond their capacity. Being day laborers, they are hesitant to even bring up such issues due to pressure from higher-ups like site managers.

Kim Mo (56) said, "If someone working short-term asks to improve the work environment, do you think the company would listen? Even if it's dangerous, there are plenty of people lined up behind me willing to do this job. Since earning money is urgent, I just work."

He continued, "You just have to do what you're told without complaining. These days, because of COVID-19, there is less work, so the key is who grabs the work first, so I do whatever I'm told," he lamented.

Summarizing the situation, for those who live day by day, raising voices for improving environments that could cause injury or death is practically a luxury. This is why there are calls for the management side to take the initiative by investing construction budgets to secure safety nets and operate reasonably.

The scene of a fire accident that occurred last month on the 29th afternoon at a logistics warehouse in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

To make matters worse, the issue of inadequate compensation for site accidents suffered by day laborers is also emerging as a problem. Unlike regular workers, day laborers mostly receive daily or hourly wages and are often excluded from welfare benefits, including the four major social insurances.

As a result, when injured at construction sites, day laborers face the double hardship of being unable to work and not receiving proper treatment. There are sorrowful voices among site workers that the Icheon fire could be a similar case.

The police stated they are investigating whether Han Express, the client of the Icheon fire construction site, and Geonwoo, the contractor, had fire insurance. They are also checking if the victims had individual insurance. However, concerns are rising that proper compensation may not be provided since most victims were day laborers hired through subcontractors.

Day laborer Han said, "Since I can't work regularly, I hesitate to get insurance," adding, "Even general insurance companies make the enrollment process complicated for day laborers, so I gave up after looking into it."

He added, "Not all accidents can be avoided just by being careful, but I try to be cautious. The problem is that if I get hurt, it's not the pain but losing my livelihood immediately," he lamented.

A coalition of 71 labor, human rights, and civic groups issued an urgent joint statement on the 30th of last month, calling for thorough investigation of the accident's cause, punishment of those responsible, and measures to prevent recurrence.

The groups said, "We must identify the structural causes of repeated disasters, such as storing hazardous materials without proper safety management, not guaranteeing workers' right to know, forced excessive construction under dangerous conditions, multi-tiered subcontracting structures that disperse responsibility and shift risks downward, and poor management and supervision. Every time such disasters occur, clients and contractors evade responsibility, leaving only low-level subcontractor managers accountable. If proper responsibility is not enforced, such incidents will happen again," they pointed out.

Meanwhile, on the 1st, President Moon Jae-in, on Labor Day, stated, "Above all, we will do our best to create safe workplaces and reduce industrial accidents."

On that day, President Moon said via social media, "Most of those who lost their lives in the Icheon fire were day laborers. Workers in electrical, painting, equipment, and concrete pouring trades suffered a sudden tragedy while finishing the logistics warehouse." He added, "On Labor Day, I once again offer my solemn condolences to the victims of this unfortunate accident and pay tribute to the efforts of all workers in this land."

He further said, "The death of overseas Korean workers who were nurturing dreams in their homeland is truly heartbreaking. I sincerely comfort their families."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.