Gyeongsangnam-do Small Business Association, "Opposing the Application of the Serious Accident Punishment Act to Small Business Owners!"

"It is almost like treating small business owners as potential criminals"

The Gyeongsangnam-do Small Business Association is holding a press conference at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Plaza opposing the application of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Labor Standards Act to small business owners. Photo by Saeyan Park sy77@

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Saeyan] The Gyeongsangnam-do Small Business Association (hereinafter referred to as Sogongyeon) held a press conference on the 4th at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Plaza opposing the application of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the Labor Standards Act to small business owners.

The Serious Accidents Corporate Punishment Act currently under discussion in the National Assembly stipulates that if a business owner or management officer violates obligations resulting in death or serious accidents, the business owner and management officer will be criminally punished and the relevant corporation will be fined, among other penalties.

Sogongyeon stated, "We agree with the purpose of this law to reduce serious accidents, but it raises concerns that it may weaken the management motivation of companies and thereby weaken the structure of our economy."

They particularly pointed out that this law targets not only large and medium-sized enterprises but also small business owners for punishment.

Sogongyeon emphasized, "The sales gap between small business owners and large and medium-sized enterprises is so vast that comparison itself is difficult, and small business owners cannot afford to hire labor management personnel. Defining such punishments is tantamount to labeling small business owners as potential lawbreakers."

The 'public use facilities' defined in the government's and ruling party's Serious Accidents Punishment Act bill include facilities under the Indoor Air Quality Control Act and business establishments subject to the Special Act on Safety Management of Multi-use Facilities, which cover most small business owners such as restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bathhouses, karaoke rooms, PC rooms, academies, goshiwons, postpartum care centers, daycare centers, and indoor sports facilities.

Therefore, they urged, "For small business owners, education for industrial accident prevention, facility environment improvement, and infrastructure establishment for accident prevention should come first," and called for the exclusion of small business owners from the application of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.

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