4000 Small Business Owners Gathered in Suwon... "Need More Time to Prepare for the Jungcheo Act" (Comprehensive)

Resolution Rally Held at Suwon Messe on the Afternoon of the 14th
"Over 80% of Small and Medium Manufacturing and Construction Companies Not Prepared"

On the 14th, over 4,000 small and medium-sized business owners gathered in one place to raise their voices to the National Assembly, urging a postponement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act for workplaces with fewer than 50 employees. They expressed the difficulties they face on-site and emphasized the urgent need for a delay.

On the afternoon of the 14th, a rally urging the postponement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act for workplaces with fewer than 50 employees is being held at Suwon Messe in Gyeonggi Province.
[Photo by Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business]

Fourteen organizations, including small construction groups and the Small and Medium Business Association Council, held a resolution rally at Suwon Messe in Gyeonggi Province, calling for a postponement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act for workplaces with fewer than 50 employees. The 14 organizations included the Korea Federation of SMEs, the Korea Specialty Contractors Association, the Korea Mechanical Equipment Construction Association, the Korea Women Entrepreneurs Association, the Korea Venture Capital Association, and the Venture Business Association.

The massive exhibition hall, Suwon Messe, located near Suwon Station, was packed with 4,000 small and medium business owners. The banners dyed in red and blue bore the phrase “Immediately process the postponement bill for the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.” In the hands of the business owners were placards reading “Employment is necessary for labor, and businesses must survive for workers to live,” and “Enough is enough, wake up to the neglect of people’s livelihood.”

In their statement, they pointed out, “More than 80% of small manufacturing and construction companies are unprepared for the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, and many small business owners do not even know if the law applies to them,” adding, “If the owner of a small construction company faces criminal punishment, the business will be on the brink of closure, and workers will lose their jobs.”

They continued, “At small business sites, people say they would rather close their businesses than risk going to prison,” emphasizing, “Prevention should come before punishment in the Serious Accidents Punishment Act.”

They also stated, “We have promised not to request any further extensions if the law’s application is postponed for just two years,” urging, “The National Assembly should promptly pass the bill to postpone the Serious Accidents Punishment Act for workplaces with fewer than 50 employees for two years.”

Kim Ki-moon, Chairman of the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business, is giving closing remarks at the rally urging the postponement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act for workplaces with fewer than 50 employees, held on the afternoon of the 14th at Suwon Messe, Gyeonggi Province.
[Photo by Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business]

Yoon Hak-su, president of the Korea Specialty Contractors Association, said, “Owners of small and micro businesses are no different from their workers,” adding, “The law simply defines us as business owners, but we work alongside our employees, sharing the dust and labor.” He further stated, “We who run small businesses care about the lives and safety of our workers more than anyone else.”

Reports on industry field difficulties were also presented. The speakers included Kim Sun-ok, CEO of Sambu Power; Namgung Hoon, CEO of Enserve; Kim Do-kyung, head of safety and health at Top Engineering; Jung Dong-min, CEO of Bethel Construction; Oh Hyo-seok, sales representative for Doosan Forklift in Eastern Gyeonggi; and Kang Gu-man, CEO of Manseo.

Namgung Hoon, CEO of Enserve, said, “I came here with a desperate heart during the precious time that should be spent sweating on-site,” shouting, “Which CEO would want their employees, who are like family, to get hurt or die? Which employee would want their CEO to be arrested?” Jung Dong-min, CEO of Bethel Construction, spoke with a flushed face and an excited voice, criticizing, “The Serious Accidents Punishment Act was hastily made focusing on punishment. Small construction companies are losing sleep every night due to the burden of securing labor and operating funds, plus the additional costs and personnel needed for safety.” Kang Gu-man, CEO of Manseo, said, “I sometimes wonder if the Serious Accidents Punishment Act is making the future of workers, who are like family, even more uncertain,” and asked, “Is it unreasonable to ask for more time to prepare during such difficult times, not to abolish the law?”

Kim Ki-moon, chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, urged, “Even surveys targeting the general public show higher support for postponing the Serious Accidents Punishment Act,” and appealed, “Please ensure the postponement bill is passed at the National Assembly plenary session on the 29th so that politics does not hinder the economy.”

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