List of 'Bulryang Construction Companies' Released... Mandatory Workers' Accident Insurance Enrollment

Lee Jae-gap Announces Joint 'Construction Site Fire Safety Measures' with Related Ministries
Thorough Safety Management and Supervision... Strengthening Building Material Standards to Prevent Fires
Prime Minister Lee: "Approach the Implementation of Measures with a Commitment as if Your Position Depends on It"

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] The government is pushing to disclose the list of 'deficient construction companies' with poor safety management. Enrollment in workers' accident insurance will be mandatory, and penalties for crimes causing multiple casualties such as industrial accidents will be strengthened.

Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor, held a briefing at the Government Complex Sejong on the morning of the 18th and announced the 'Fire Safety Measures for Construction Sites,' jointly established with related ministries. This safety measure was prepared to prevent the recurrence of fire and explosion accidents following the April fire at the Icheon logistics center, which claimed the lives of 38 workers. The focus is on increasing corporate interest and responsibility for safety management and encouraging investment.

First, the Ministry of Employment and Labor will promote the disclosure of the list of construction companies with poor safety management. In the future, the names of companies with a certain level or higher number of fatal accidents and the fatality rate (number of fatal accidents per 10,000 workers) are expected to be announced. Through this information, clients will be able to verify the safety construction capability of construction companies and select qualified companies.

Enrollment in workers' accident insurance will also be mandatory. This is to ensure appropriate compensation for workers in the event of a major accident. The plan includes having clients bear part of the insurance premium to create an environment favorable for safety-excellent construction companies to win contracts.

Lee Jae-gap, Minister of Employment and Labor / Photo by Jin-hyung Kang aymsdream@

While closely managing and supervising hazardous work at construction sites, revisions to laws and systems will be pursued to raise corporate awareness of labor safety.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor plans to amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act to strengthen economic sanctions such as fines against companies negligent in safety management. The Ministry of Justice is promoting the enactment of the 'Special Act on Punishment of Crimes Causing Multiple Casualties.' This law aims to strengthen penalties for crimes causing multiple casualties in multi-use facilities, industrial accidents, and the like.

Fire safety standards for building materials will also be significantly strengthened. Cheap combustible materials have often been used at construction sites, causing large fires. Accordingly, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has decided to expand the fire safety standards for finishing materials, which previously applied only to warehouses over 600㎡ and factories over 1000㎡, to all factories and warehouses. For internal insulation materials such as urethane foam, which previously had no fire safety standards, flame retardant performance will be secured.

Additionally, a quality certification system will be introduced to comprehensively evaluate the fire safety performance of building materials and the management capabilities of manufacturers. Monitoring will be expanded to ensure the use of fire-safe building materials, and surprise inspections will also be promoted.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun emphasized at the National Policy Coordination Meeting on the same day, "There will be no compromise in protecting the lives of the people and creating a safe society," and urged, "Ministers of related ministries such as the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport should approach the implementation of the measures with a commitment as if their positions depend on it. I will personally oversee this."

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