Gyeonggi-do Promotes Establishment of 'Industrial Safety Governance' to Reduce Industrial Accidents

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (center) is taking a commemorative photo with attendees at the Gyeonggi Province Labor-Management-Government Council on the 22nd.

The Gyeonggi Province Labor-Management-Government-Civil Council is launching the establishment of the ‘Gyeonggi Province Industrial Safety Public-Private Cooperation,’ in which all members of society participate as key stakeholders, to reduce industrial accidents.

On the 22nd, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon held the ‘2023 2nd Gyeonggi Province Labor-Management-Government-Civil Council’ at the Yulgok Hall of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office, attended by about 50 people including Kim Yeon-pung, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters, Kim Chun-ho, Chairman of the Gyeonggi Employers Federation, Noh Gil-jun, Chairman of the Gyeonggi Regional Labor Relations Commission, and other council members, where they announced a joint declaration containing these details.

In the joint declaration, Governor Kim Dong-yeon said, "I believe that current labor-management issues are among the examples of turning back the wheels of history. Dialogue and compromise between labor and management must be based on trust, but it is regrettable to see various circumstances where trust itself is collapsing." He added, "In the midst of the regression of labor policies, it is very meaningful that Gyeonggi Province, where 27% of South Korea’s population resides, is discussing industrial accident prevention and industrial safety. Industrial accident fatality rates are high in small businesses, but Gyeonggi Province will thoroughly examine even workplaces with fewer than five employees without any blind spots and provide support if necessary."

He continued, "After taking office, I established the Labor Safety Division. This year, we also formulated the Gyeonggi Province Comprehensive Industrial Accident Prevention Plan, the first of its kind by a local government." He emphasized, "Gyeonggi Province will maintain its focus and move forward beyond political strife and ideology. I hope the Gyeonggi Province Labor-Management-Government-Civil Council will build on the results of past dialogues and compromises to achieve tangible outcomes."

Kim Yeon-pung, Chairman of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Gyeonggi Regional Headquarters, said, "Workers, the common people, and the vulnerable are feeling a harsher cold wave than the weather itself due to high interest rates, high exchange rates, and high oil prices. I hope Gyeonggi Province can propose solutions through the Labor-Management-Government-Civil Council to overcome the current crisis and further provide hope to the residents of Gyeonggi Province." He urged, "Regarding industrial accident prevention, all workers should be guaranteed the right to work in safe workplaces with assured safety, and I ask you to take the lead in this."

Kim Chun-ho, Chairman of the Gyeonggi Employers Federation, stated, "This year, the Gyeonggi Province Labor-Management-Government-Civil Council has been striving to achieve the common goal of spreading industrial safety and preventing industrial accidents through labor-management-government-civil councils in 31 cities and counties." He added, "We will faithfully fulfill the role of the Gyeonggi Labor-Management-Government-Civil Council and work to firmly establish it."

The declaration made that day includes a pledge that the entire local community will participate as members of the Gyeonggi Province Industrial Safety Public-Private Cooperation (governance), fulfilling their responsibilities based on mutual respect and trust.

Workers pledged to comply with safety and health rules and work procedures, actively participate in activities to raise safety awareness, and take the lead in fostering an organizational culture that prioritizes labor safety.

Employers pledged to comply with relevant laws such as the Industrial Safety and Health Act, establish autonomous safety management systems, and lead efforts to enhance safety management capabilities across the industry by transferring safety management technologies from large corporations to partner companies and small and micro enterprises.

Representatives of residents (Provincial Assembly and public institutions) pledged to set institutional policies to promote support projects for companies required to conduct legally mandated industrial safety and health education and actively create an environment to spread a safety culture.

Gyeonggi Province pledged to actively strive to build an industrial safety council as a control tower for industrial accident prevention and to carry out comprehensive innovation in industrial accident prevention policies through collaboration with all economic actors.

Meanwhile, during the council meeting, a ‘Gyeonggi Province Large and Small-Medium Enterprise Safety Technology Win-Win Transfer Agreement’ was also held, with participation from a total of nine organizations including Gyeonggi Province, the Gyeonggi Employers Federation, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Kia Motors, LG Electronics, POSCO DX Co., Ltd., HDC Hyundai Development Company, and GS Construction.

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