Vice Minister Noh Yongseok Listens to SME Labor Issues: "Safe Workplaces Must Be Created"

SMEs Express Concerns Over Labor Issues
Calls for Improvements to the Yellow Envelope Law and Industrial Safety
Active Cooperation Requested for Safer Workplaces

On August 12, Noh Yongseok, Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, visited the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul, to listen to the opinions of the small and medium business sector regarding recent labor issues.

This meeting was organized to hear directly from the field and to request active participation and cooperation from the SME sector for the prevention of industrial accidents and the improvement of working conditions for foreign workers.

Noh Yongseok, Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, is speaking at a meeting with the small and medium business sector on the 12th at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul. Ministry of SMEs and Startups

Vice Minister Noh stated, "Industrial safety is directly linked to life, so it is a priority that both the government and businesses must address, and it is a core value for the sustainable management of companies." He added, "Many SMEs may face difficulties in preventing industrial accidents due to a lack of skilled personnel, the burden of investing in safety equipment, and challenges in accessing information. Nevertheless, I urge SME owners to cooperate actively so that SMEs can become safe workplaces for both domestic and foreign workers."

In response, Oh Kiwoong, Executive Vice Chairman of the Korea Federation of SMEs, said, "The SME sector will also actively cooperate to create safe workplaces."

Meanwhile, the SMEs attending the meeting raised concerns about the expansion of the scope of the so-called Yellow Envelope Law to include more employers, called for improvements to the level of penalties under the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and for increased government support for industrial accident prevention, pointed out the rigidity of the 52-hour workweek system, urged a cautious approach to the introduction of a 4.5-day workweek, and suggested that employment policies should focus on re-employment rather than simply extending the retirement age across the board.

Vice Minister Noh stated, "I will work closely with relevant ministries to ensure that the voices of the SME sector are not overlooked regarding the recent labor issues that have become a matter of public concern."

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