Rep. Kim Hoe-jae Proposes Amendment to Labor Standards Act Granting Paid Shower Time for Chemical Substance Handling Workers

Providing Paid Shower Time for Chemical Handlers Working Over 4 Hours to Protect Workers' Health Rights

[Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon] A revision to the Labor Standards Act granting paid shower time to workers handling hazardous and dangerous chemicals has been proposed.

Kim Hoe-jae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Yeosu City, Jeonnam, announced on the 22nd that he has taken the lead in proposing the "Partial Amendment to the Labor Standards Act" to provide paid shower time for workers handling chemicals.

The current "Industrial Safety and Health Act" stipulates that facilities for preventing industrial accidents can be installed and operated for workers, and one of the representative industrial accident prevention facilities is bathing (shower) facilities for washing off contaminants.

However, despite handling explosive, flammable, or toxic chemicals during work, the time required to remove these chemicals is currently excluded from working hours as break time.

Accordingly, through the "Partial Amendment to the Labor Standards Act," Representative Kim proposed that when a worker performs tasks handling hazardous or dangerous chemicals for more than four hours, 15 minutes of paid bathing and washing time to remove chemical contaminants should be granted.

Kim Hoe-jae stated, "Shower time is essential for the health rights of workers performing tasks involving chemicals and for the prevention of industrial accidents," adding, "Paid shower time must be introduced for the safety of workers."

Yeosu=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Cheol-hoon hss79@asiae.co.kr

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