Record-breaking heatwave... Workers demand "Guarantee rest breaks"

Working Without Breaks at Construction Sites
Coupang Union Begins Law-Abiding Struggle

Amid an unprecedented heatwave causing a surge in heat-related illnesses, labor unions have called for measures such as guaranteeing rest breaks.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' National Construction Workers' Union is holding a press conference in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, performing a demonstration urging the enactment of the Heatwave Act. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor guidelines on the 5th (Article 566 of the Industrial Safety and Health Standards), it is recommended to guarantee a 10-minute rest break every hour when the apparent temperature is 33 degrees Celsius or higher (heatwave advisory), and a 15-minute rest break every hour when the apparent temperature is 35 degrees Celsius or higher (heatwave warning). However, since these guidelines are not strictly enforced and results may vary depending on the location of temperature and humidity measurements and the method of calculating apparent temperature, conflicts have arisen between labor and management.

According to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ National Construction Workers' Union, a survey conducted on 3,206 civil engineering and construction site workers on the 1st and 2nd found that when asked whether the rule to stop outdoor work during the hottest hours from 2 to 5 p.m. when the apparent temperature exceeds 35 degrees Celsius was being followed, 1,981 respondents (81.7%) out of 2,424 answered that they worked without any separate suspension instructions. Only 25.4% responded that the recommended regular rest breaks of 10 to 15 minutes or more during heatwave alerts were being observed. The Construction Workers' Union stated, "Workers are too afraid of starving to death rather than dying from the heat, so they do not even dare to ask to stop work," and demanded, "The Ministry of Employment and Labor should not just issue recommendations but revise the ministerial ordinances to legislate heatwave countermeasures."

The Coupang Logistics Center union began a "law-abiding struggle" on the 2nd, demanding guaranteed rest breaks. Logistics centers are usually built with multi-level structures for efficient product stacking. Because of this, although the workplace is indoors, it is vulnerable to high external temperatures unlike typical residential facilities. If cooling or ventilation systems are not perfectly installed, there is a high risk of heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses during summer. Jeong Seong-yong, head of the Coupang Logistics Center branch of the National Public Transport Workers' Union, stated, “The logistics centers in Incheon, Dongtan, and Daegu are recording apparent temperatures averaging 34 to 35 degrees Celsius,” and claimed, “The company measures based on temperature and humidity meters they installed. The apparent temperature is calculated using the Korea Meteorological Administration website, but the company is not providing rest breaks.”

Coupang rebutted by stating that they conduct regular heat illness prevention training, periodically measure temperature and humidity, and provide additional rest breaks beyond the legally mandated break times. A Coupang representative said, "To create a comfortable working environment for employees, we operate various cooling and ventilation devices and provide cooling products, continuing multifaceted measures and related investments to prevent heat-related illnesses."

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