Gyeonggi-do Operates 'Heat Relief Shelters' for Mobile Workers Until the End of September

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province will open and operate 'Heatwave Shelters for Mobile Workers' at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government building and public institutions from the 25th of this month until September 30th to ensure rest and health rights for mobile workers during the summer season.

The Heatwave Shelters for Mobile Workers are part of Governor Lee Jae-myung's 7th-term labor policy philosophy of realizing a "fair society where labor is respected," and have been promoted since last year as a customized rest space support project for mobile workers.

The main users are mobile workers such as postal carriers, delivery drivers, and quick service couriers who, due to the nature of their work, must spend long hours outdoors even in extreme heat.

This year, the shelters will operate in 77 locations including the Gyeonggi Provincial Government building, affiliated agencies, business offices, and public institutions under the province, including the Uijeongbu Northern Government Office. Additionally, in cooperation with 31 cities and counties within the province, measures have been taken to allow shelters to operate at city, county, and district offices or town, township, and neighborhood offices.

Rest areas are prepared by utilizing lounges and lobbies of each institution, with air conditioners running to cool the heat and bottled water provided. Some shelters will also operate shower facilities. The shelters are located throughout the 31 cities and counties, allowing workers to rest conveniently at times and places that fit their schedules.

In particular, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, facility managers are designated for each shelter, and disinfection plans are established and implemented.

Entry logs are created and managed, with daily disinfection and ventilation conducted regularly. Temperature checks will be performed on users, and strict adherence to quarantine rules such as wearing masks and maintaining a distance of at least 2 meters between users will be enforced.

Ryu Gwang-yeol, Director of the Provincial Labor Bureau, emphasized, "Summer is a period when mobile workers are at risk of health threats such as heatstroke and heat syncope due to long hours of outdoor work," adding, "We will continue to discover projects to guarantee labor rights for workers working in harsh environments."

Since the second half of last year, the province has been promoting the 'Mobile Worker Shelter Installation Support Project' to ensure rest conditions for mobile workers. These shelters not only provide rest spaces but also operate various programs such as industrial accident prevention education, labor rights protection, rehabilitation counseling, job training, and employment and career transition support.

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