Paid Leave for Working During Heatwave Advisory... "Extreme Heat Leave Guarantee Act" Proposed

Bill Proposed by Kim Mi-ae of the People Power Party

Preparation of Partial Amendment to the Labor Standards Act
If a heatwave advisory persists for three consecutive days or more,
Recommendation to grant at least three days of paid leave
Wage support for small businesses as well

Paid Leave for Working During Heatwave Advisory... "Extreme Heat Leave Guarantee Act" Proposed

Kim Mi-ae of the People Power Party Preparing to Propose Related Bill

The People Power Party is pushing for legislation to guarantee paid leave for workers during periods of extreme heat. The plan is to enhance effectiveness by providing state support for labor costs in small businesses that lack substitute workers.

Members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference on the 11th in front of the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging the Government Regulatory Reform Committee (GRRC) to pass the heatwave rules. On the same day, the GRRC re-examined the amendment to the "Industrial Safety and Health Standards" regulations, which includes the provision "at temperatures above 33 degrees Celsius, take a break of at least 20 minutes within 2 hours." July 11, 2025 Yonhap News Agency

According to political sources on the 11th, Kim Mi-ae, the secretary of the People Power Party on the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, submitted a partial amendment to the Labor Standards Act, a partial amendment to the Framework Act on Small and Medium Enterprises, and a request for review to the Legislative Office the previous day. With heatwaves continuing day after day and creating emergencies at industrial sites, the bill is scheduled to be formally proposed within this month.

As the rainy season continues along with nationwide heatwaves, humid and hot weather persists. On July 1, 2025, an air conditioner outdoor unit is installed on a building near Namdaemun Market in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

At Least Three Days of Paid Leave If Heatwave Advisory Lasts Three Consecutive Days

The amendment includes a recommendation that if a heatwave advisory announced by the Korea Meteorological Administration continues for three consecutive days or more, employers should grant workers at least three days of paid leave, separate from annual paid leave. In addition, if business owners with ten or fewer regular employees or with annual sales of 1 billion won or less provide paid leave during periods of extreme heat, the state may support their labor costs.

As the heatwave continues day after day, making this the hottest July in history, the temperature in Seoul's downtown Jongno-gu exceeded 37 degrees Celsius on the afternoon of the 9th, intensifying the scorching heat. Children visiting the urban water playground in Jongno-gu are cooling off from the heat. 2025. 7.9 Photo by Cho Yongjun

The current Labor Standards Act does not contain provisions for protecting workers during periods of extreme heat, leaving the granting of related leave to the discretion of employers. In particular, it has been pointed out that in the case of small businesses, the lack of substitute workers makes it practically difficult to provide summer leave.

Explaining the background for promoting this legislation, Kim Mi-ae stated, "Deaths and industrial accidents caused by heat-related illnesses during the summer are rapidly increasing," and added, "If the state shares the burden of labor costs during periods of extreme heat, it will substantially guarantee workers' rights to life and health, and also help stabilize the management of small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed business owners."