Firefighters' Union Demands Implementation of 3-Shift System for All Fire Officers and Abolition of Work Schedule

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 17th, Kim Tae-won, Senior Vice Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Firefighters' Union, along with unions including the KCTU Firefighters' Union and Sosagongno, participated in the Fire Agency Labor-Management Policy Council to discuss 89 agenda items with the Fire Agency, including the introduction of the ‘Dangbihyu’ shift system for firefighters and the abolition of work schedules.

Vice Chairman Kim Tae-won stated, “Firefighters are engaged in a noble profession protecting the lives and property of the public on the front lines of disaster sites. To provide high-quality services to the public, many systems must be improved so that firefighters can work in a less stressful and more comfortable environment. Improving the labor welfare of firefighters is essential for fostering the honorable and dedicated firefighting spirit.”

Vice Chairman Hwang Sun-woo (Gyeonggi Chairman) said, “A preference survey on work methods was conducted among 3,855 field firefighters in Gyeonggi Province. The results showed that 56.1% (477) of paramedics, 82.6% (388) of rescue workers, and 82.6% (2,108) of fire suppression workers preferred the 3-shift, 1-day-off system (Dangbihyu). The Fire Agency should also conduct a survey on work methods for all firefighters and change to the 3-shift, 1-day-off system (Dangbihyu) and abolish the work schedule.”

Secretary-General Park Seok-ho said, “In addition to the council agenda, the KCTU Firefighters' Union has secured 700 million won through the National Assembly for the design costs of a mental and physical training center to improve firefighters’ treatment, and only the budget and settlement committee approval remains. We are also promoting a National Assembly bill for the presumption of work-related injury, which stipulates that if a public official who has worked for more than three years in disaster and emergency activities such as fire suppression, rescue, and paramedics contracts a disease prescribed by Presidential Decree, the head of the Personnel Innovation Office must recognize it as a work-related injury unless proven otherwise.”

Attending the meeting were Senior Vice Chairman Kim Tae-won (Gyeongbuk Chairman), Vice Chairman Hwang Sun-woo (Gyeonggi Chairman), Secretary-General Park Seok-ho (Jeonnam Chairman), and Chairman Woo Nam-cheol (Gangwon Chairman).

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