Human Rights Commission: "Serious Accident Punishment Act Should Equally Apply to Workplaces with Fewer than 5 or 50 Employees"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Human Rights Commission of Korea emphasized the need for the same legal application of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act (Serious Accidents Punishment Act), which will be enforced on the 27th, to workplaces with fewer than 5 and fewer than 50 employees. On the 26th, the Human Rights Commission issued a statement in the name of Chairman Song Doo-hwan, stating, "The necessity of prevention and protection under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act is very urgent even in workplaces with fewer than 5 and fewer than 50 employees."

The Human Rights Commission pointed out, "The enactment of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act is significant in that it holds employers and management responsible and establishes regulations regarding the responsibility and punishment of the primary contractor," but also noted, "Workplaces with fewer than 5 employees are excluded from legal application, and workplaces with fewer than 50 employees will be subject to enforcement starting January 27, 2024." Citing industrial accident statistics from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Commission said, "About 63% of industrial accident deaths occur in workplaces with fewer than 5 and fewer than 50 employees," emphasizing, "Considering the reality of industrial accidents in our country, exceptions or delays in legal application should not be allowed."

The Human Rights Commission stated, "To ensure that the Serious Accidents Punishment Act functions properly as a safeguard for the lives and safety of workers and citizens, the government and companies must do their utmost to prevent serious accidents through stricter management supervision and all possible measures," adding, "Strict legal application in the event of an accident is necessary to secure effectiveness." The Commission also added, "We will strive to prepare legal and institutional supplements and improvement plans for the prevention of serious accidents."

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