Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to Conduct Intensive Wage Arrears Inspection for Lunar New Year Holiday Until the 5th of Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 10th that it will conduct a special labor inspection for four weeks from the 11th to February 5th to prevent and resolve seafarers' wage arrears ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has been conducting special labor inspections every year before holidays to prevent and resolve seafarers' wage arrears in order to support the livelihood stability of seafarers. Last year, through this effort, wage arrears of approximately 2.1 billion KRW for 238 seafarers were resolved.

This special labor inspection will be carried out by organizing inspection teams at 11 regional maritime affairs and fisheries offices. The plan is to focus inspections on companies with habitual wage arrears over the past three years and vulnerable companies suspected of wage arrears.

The Ministry will require companies confirmed to have wage arrears to immediately prepare measures to settle the unpaid wages. If the companies fail to settle the arrears, they will be strictly punished, including referral to the prosecution, to ensure that unpaid wages are paid promptly.

Additionally, for seafarers who have not received their wages due to company insolvency or bankruptcy, the Ministry will actively guide them to receive payments using the "Seafarers' Wage Claim Guarantee Fund System," and when the company’s vessels are auctioned, seafarers' wages will be prioritized for repayment. In particular, starting February 19 this year, amendments to the Seafarers Act and its enforcement decree, which include provisions for a 20% delay interest on unpaid seafarers' wages and the disclosure of shipowners with wage arrears, will be implemented. The Ministry expects that the issue of seafarers' wage arrears will be resolved more swiftly as a result.

Lee Jong-ho, Director of the Seafarer Policy Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, "Wages are the most important means of livelihood and rightful compensation for seafarers. We will thoroughly conduct this special labor inspection so that seafarers can spend a warm Lunar New Year holiday with their families."

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