Metalworkers Union Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch "GGM Special Labor Inspection Must Be Conducted"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] Regarding the recent accident in which a worker fell from a 5-meter-high worksite and died at the Gwangju Global Motors (GGM) automobile production plant within the Bitgreen National Industrial Complex, local labor unions are raising their voices calling for a special labor inspection.

On the afternoon of the 1st, the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference in front of the Gwangju Employment and Labor Office, emphasizing, “The Gwangju Employment and Labor Office must conduct a special labor inspection not only into the investigation of the worker's death accident at GGM but also into issues such as illegal multi-level subcontracting, wage arrears, and violations of the Labor Standards Act.”

They added, “The recent industrial accident death of a worker in his 50s occurred while carrying out mechanical equipment construction through multi-level subcontracting,” and urged, “Mechanical equipment construction should only be performed by specialized construction companies, so it is necessary to clearly verify through investigation whether illegal subcontracting has taken place.”

They further stated, “In the multi-level subcontracting structure that starts with GGM’s orders and extends to primary and secondary subcontractors, not only these companies but also other subcontractors exist through fragmented subcontracting, widely employing daily workers.”

The Metal Workers' Union Gwangju-Jeonnam branch reported, “Wages of dozens of daily workers at subcontractors have been continuously delayed,” and added, “After work was suspended due to this industrial accident death, there have been reports that some daily workers were dismissed, and the delayed wages are said to be paid only by the end of this month.”

Quoting another report, the Metal Workers' Union Gwangju-Jeonnam branch said, “This fall death accident appears to be an accident that could have happened at any time,” and explained, “GGM replaced the safety manager who was conducting thorough safety inspections one month before the accident, and it is reported that safety inspections were not properly conducted and work was forced to proceed to shorten the construction period. Among daily workers, there were talks that ‘someone might die like this.’”

They concluded, “The Gwangju Employment and Labor Office, Gwangju Metropolitan City, GGM, and the primary and secondary subcontractors must first resolve the issue of delayed wages for daily workers before the Lunar New Year holiday,” and suggested, “Not only should the Gwangju Employment and Labor Office conduct a special inspection, but Gwangju City should also establish a comprehensive plan regarding the GGM issue.”

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