Minister of Employment Summons Affiliated Agencies, Emphasizes "Reducing Industrial Accident Deaths"

3 PM on the 3rd: Meeting of Heads of Sanha Public Institutions
"Major Accident Punishment Act to be Enforced Next Year... Close Management of Construction, Manufacturing, etc."

Minister of Employment and Labor An Kyung-duk inspecting safety management at a small-scale construction site near Sejong City on the afternoon of the 1st. (Photo by Ministry of Employment and Labor) [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] An Kyung-duk, Minister of Employment and Labor, on the 3rd urged the chairpersons of 12 affiliated institutions, including the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, to "devote all efforts to on-site safety guidance and supervision, and improving safety awareness to reduce industrial accident fatalities."

Minister An presided over a meeting of heads of affiliated public institutions at the Government Sejong Complex at 3 p.m. that day and checked the implementation status of key projects of the institutions. At this meeting, Minister An ordered a definite reduction in industrial accident fatalities. He said, "Before the enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act next year, actively support companies in establishing autonomous safety and health management systems," and added, "Focus on close management of high-risk areas with frequent industrial accidents such as construction and manufacturing, and thoroughly inspect safety measures against the three major risk factors: falls, entrapment, and failure to wear essential protective equipment, to concentrate more on reducing fatal accidents."

Regarding employment recovery, he judged that "focus should be placed on employment recovery in vulnerable industries and vulnerable groups." Minister An emphasized, "From the beginning of the employment insurance enrollment for special employment workers (special types of employment, or 'teukso') starting next month, please prepare meticulously and thoroughly by devising customized promotion and enrollment support plans to ensure the system is well established." He continued, "To respond to the rapidly changing industrial sites and employment and labor environment, we must consider the direction of change in public services even faster," and added, "Based on definite achievements, to enhance public trust, please place the focus of work on the people and strive to improve organizational structure and strengthen capabilities."

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