Ministry of Employment and Labor Elevates Industrial Safety and Health Headquarters to Vice-Ministerial Level... Establishes Policy Office and Expands to Three Bureaus

Ministry of Employment and Labor Expands and Restructures under Government Organization Act
One Additional Vice-Ministerial Headquarters, Two New Offices and Divisions Added after Reorganization

The Ministry of Employment and Labor announced that, in accordance with the Government Organization Act passed by the National Assembly on the 26th and approved at the Cabinet meeting on the 30th, the Industrial Safety and Health Headquarters, previously a director-general level organization, will be elevated to a vice-ministerial level headquarters starting October 1.

This reorganization aims to recognize that protecting the lives and safety of the public, ensuring that no one is injured or killed in the workplace, is the government's top priority, and to consolidate cross-ministerial policy capabilities related to industrial accident prevention.

Provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor

Under the Industrial Safety and Health Headquarters, a new Industrial Safety and Health Policy Office will be established to strengthen roles in policy formulation, implementation, and capacity. The Occupational Accident Prevention Supervision Policy Bureau will be reorganized into the Safety and Health Supervision Bureau to enhance functions related to industrial safety and health supervision and investigations into major industrial accidents. Additionally, a new Industrial Health Compensation Policy Bureau will be created to strengthen policy expertise.

Given the importance of preventive supervision in protecting workers’ lives, safety, and rights, a Labor Supervision Policy Division will be newly established within the Labor Policy Office. Through this, the ministry plans to establish a control tower for supervisory administration and prepare for the delegation of labor supervision authority to local governments.

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Younghoon stated, "The elevation of the Industrial Safety and Health Headquarters to vice-ministerial level reflects the government’s firm commitment to protecting workers’ lives and safety," adding, "We will use this as an opportunity to strengthen the workplace safety management system and do our utmost to reduce major industrial accidents."

Provided by the Ministry of Employment and Labor

With the expansion of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family into the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Affairs, responsibilities such as active employment improvement measures to reduce gender gaps in employment will be transferred. The Women’s Employment Policy Division, which previously handled related work, will be moved to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Affairs. However, responsibilities such as maternity protection, childcare support, work-family balance support, and addressing sexual harassment and gender discrimination will remain with the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

A ministry official explained, "Three employees from the Women’s Employment Policy Division will be transferred to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Affairs," adding, "Some work will still be handled by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, specifically by the Employment Culture Improvement Policy Division."

After this reorganization, the Ministry of Employment and Labor will be composed of one minister, one vice minister and one headquarters, four offices and one spokesperson, sixteen bureaus and offices, and fifty-two divisions. Compared to before the reorganization, there will be one additional vice-ministerial headquarters, two more offices, and two more divisions. The ministry’s staff will increase by 24, from 632 to 656.

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