Reintroduced Transfer of 'Geunro Gamdokgwon'... Gyeonggi-do Begins Research Project

Policy to Propose Collaborative Areas Between Central and Local Governments This August

Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] The Gyeonggi Province under the 7th local government is set to actively push forward the transfer of labor inspection authority to local governments, a key pledge of Governor Lee Jae-myung.

Previously, during the 20th National Assembly, Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Chang-hyun and others submitted a revision bill to the Labor Standards Act that included granting labor inspection authority to local governments. However, it was stalled due to opposition from the government and others and was eventually discarded.

The government opposes local governments holding labor inspection authority, arguing that it does not align with legal logic and that transferring inspection authority would require increasing the number of public officials.

Although Gyeonggi Province appears to have stepped back from the original stance of fully transferring labor inspection authority to local governments to a shared model with the central government, clashes with the government seem inevitable if disagreements persist.

On the 26th, Gyeonggi Province announced, "Since January this year, we have been conducting a 'Study on the Introduction and Effectiveness of a Shared Cooperation Model for Local Government Labor Inspection Authority' to develop a concrete cooperation model."

They added, "Given that labor inspectors’ duties are extensive and their numbers insufficient, making it difficult to thoroughly oversee all workplaces nationwide, this study aims to establish more fundamental institutional improvements and a detailed inspection network."

They also pointed out, "Tragic incidents such as the Icheon logistics warehouse fire continue to cause repeated sacrifices in labor sites," emphasizing, "To break the structure where no one takes responsibility, it is essential to strictly impose criminal liability and penalties based on strong 'labor inspection authority.'"

In this regard, Gyeonggi Province plans to expand the number of 'Labor Safety Keepers'?personnel responsible for safety compliance monitoring and enforcement at construction sites and other workplaces where industrial accidents are a concern?from 10 to 104 this year.

Earlier, on the 18th, Governor Lee Jae-myung emphasized at the '2021 Provincial Government Work Report Meeting,' "While efforts such as introducing fair wage allowances and supporting industrial accident insurance premiums for delivery workers are commendable, the most important thing is to actually secure labor inspection authority."

Gyeonggi Province’s concept of sharing labor inspection authority with local governments focuses on having the central government set matters requiring nationwide uniformity, while both the central and local governments jointly hold monitoring and inspection authority at labor sites.

Currently, local governments conduct investigations and inspections through the 'Special Judicial Police System.' Similarly, the province explains that local governments, which are well-versed in regional issues and capable of comprehensive administration, can more effectively manage and supervise labor sites.

Kim Gyu-sik, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Labor Bureau, stated, "Once the cooperation model is derived, we expect to strengthen a field-centered labor inspection system and secure effectiveness in preventing industrial safety accidents," adding, "We will continue to respond proactively and swiftly to labor issues."

Through this study, Gyeonggi Province plans to identify by August areas where the central and local governments can collaborate, points for improvement in the current central government-led labor inspection system, proposals for related legal and institutional reforms, anticipated problems, and solutions, and then submit recommendations to the central government.

It remains uncertain whether Governor Lee Jae-myung’s proposal for shared labor inspection authority cooperation, who is leading various presidential candidate polls, will become a principled battle with the Ministry of Employment and Labor and the political establishment.

However, some analyses and forecasts suggest that if Gyeonggi Province forms an alliance with metropolitan governments such as Seoul, it could exert considerable pressure on the central government and political circles.

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