Latest news with #MinistryofEmploymentandLabour
South China Morning Post
24-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Man tied to bricks, lifted by forklift: fury in South Korea over ‘horrific' abuse
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Thursday condemned the alleged abuse of a migrant worker at a brick factory, calling it a 'blatant violation of human rights' and pledged stronger protection for vulnerable groups. His remarks came a day after migrant rights activists urged authorities to punish those involved in the incident, which was captured in video footage that circulated online this week. 'I could hardly believe my eyes after watching the video. It is unimaginable that such an incident could occur in a country known as a global cultural powerhouse and a model of democracy,' Lee wrote on Facebook. He described the act as 'an unacceptable act of violence against minorities and the vulnerable'. 'We will ensure that no one suffers from human rights abuses or labour exploitation due to their unstable status,' the president added, calling on relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Employment and Labour, to take swift action. A Sri Lankan worker is seen tied to a forklift at a brick factory in Naju, South Korea. Photo: Gwangju Jeonnam Migrant Workers' Human Rights Network The Gwangju Jeonnam Migrant Workers' Human Rights Network on Wednesday released video footage showing a man in his 30s from Sri Lanka tied to bricks with cling film and lifted by a forklift at a factory in Naju, South Jeolla province.
The Star
12-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
South Korea mandates breaks for outdoor workers in deadly heat
A woman uses a piece of paper to shade herself from the sun as she waits to cross a road in Seoul on July 10, 2025, as a heat wave warning has been issued by the South Korean government. More than a thousand people have been affected by heat-related illnesses in South Korea, officials said on July 9, as the country recorded its highest early July temperature since records began. - AFP SEOUL: South Korea will require outdoor workers to receive at least 20 minutes of rest every two hours when apparent temperatures exceed 33 deg C from as early as next week, the Ministry of Employment and Labour said on July 11. The new rule – part of a revision to the occupational safety and health standards – was passed during a review by the Regulatory Reform Committee on July 11. It had been initially rejected in April and May over concerns that it would overburden small and medium-sized enterprises. The revision was made following mounting criticism from labour groups and a surge in heat-related deaths among outdoor workers during the relentless and intense heat. In recent days, more than 1,000 cases of heat-related illness have been reported – over twice the number recorded during the same period in 2024 – as record-high temperatures grip the country. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's heat-related illness emergency room surveillance system, 1,357 patients had visited emergency rooms by July 10 due to heat-related illnesses, with nine deaths reported. The majority of cases, comprising 28.7 per cent of the total, occurred at outdoor workplaces such as construction sites. On July 7, a Vietnamese day labourer in his 20s was found dead at an apartment complex construction site in Gumi, North Gyeongsang province. The authorities suspect the cause of his death to be a heat-related illness, as his body temperature was more than 40 deg C when found. Gumi also saw daytime temperatures reach as high as 38.3 deg C on the same day. On July 3, a Filipino seasonal worker in his 30s was found unconscious at a field in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang province. The worker was immediately taken to hospital, with medical authorities suspecting he collapsed due to heat-related illness. As South Korea continues to break summer heat records year after year, the government has in the past emphasised three basic principles for responding to heatwaves – water, shade and rest. The Labour Ministry has also recommended that all work outdoors be suspended during heatwaves – though such recommendations were not legally binding. But according to workers, such guidelines were not properly implemented. According to a study conducted by the South Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in 2024, around 15 per cent of outdoor workers reported not receiving water on site and only 20 per cent of respondents indicated that they had been able to stop work during heatwaves. 'The problem behind Korea's policies on working conditions for outdoor workers in summer is that they're mere recommendations and are not legally mandated,' sociology professor Lee Byoung-hun from Chung-Ang University told The Korea Herald. 'Korea needs a legislated work stoppage system based on the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index, similar to California, to effectively respond to heatwaves.' The WBGT index mentioned by Prof Lee is a measure of heat stress in direct sunlight that considers temperature, humidity, wind speed and solar radiation and is used to assess the risk of heat-related illnesses during outdoor activities. 'Although Korea is seeing record-breaking summer temperatures every year, its protective measures for those working outdoors in the heat lag significantly behind other countries,' Prof Lee added, mentioning Greece as an example. Greece recently saw temperatures reaching as high as 40 deg C, prompting the Greek government to order a temporary suspension of outdoor labour and delivery services in parts of the country, according to the Associated Press on July 7. 'Mandatory rest periods, wearing cooling vests as well as the installation of cooling equipment should be mandated by the government to make sure such working guidelines are properly implemented,' Prof Lee added. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Train driver's rise to South Korea's cabinet gets mixed reaction
Mr Kim Young-hoon is set to become the country's first blue-collar worker to head the Ministry of Employment and Labour. PHOTO: EPA-EFE SEOUL - When South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's Cabinet picks were unveiled on June 23 afternoon, Mr Kim Young-hoon was in the driver's seat — literally. The 57-year-old train driver, who was operating a train between Gimcheon and Busan with his phone turned off, says he did not learn of his historic nomination until an hour after the news broke. Only after completing his shift and stepping off the train in Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang Province, did Mr Kim hear from colleagues that he had been tapped as South Korea's next labour minister, he told Yonhap. The nomination marks a milestone: Mr Kim is set to become the country's first blue-collar worker to head the Ministry of Employment and Labour. His selection by the liberal president has drawn both praise and scepticism, highlighting the growing debate over labour representation at the top levels of policymaking. Mr Kim also brings a decade of experience in labour activism. He led the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) from 2010 to 2012, during the administration of former President Lee Myung-bak, a conservative businessman-turned-politician. The KCTU is the largest labour group in Korea, representing some 1.2 million workers. Known for its combative stance, the KCTU has frequently clashed with conservative governments, staging nationwide strikes and sit-in protests over labour rights and policy disputes. In the past, some of its strikes have also involved violence. Though he has to go through a confirmation hearing, Mr Kim is the first-ever KCTU member nominated for the role of labour minister. Since the Ministry of Employment and Labour was established in 2010, labour ministers have typically chosen from among government officials, administrators, professors and legislators. The public reaction was a mixed bag, ranging from online congratulations to deep distrust regarding the nominee's KCTU, blue-collar background. Mr Jang Seong-cheol, a political commentator and a former aide to the conservative People Power Party, questioned whether Mr Kim could manage his administrative duties effectively regardless of his career in a local radio show 'Kim Hyun Jung's News Show' on June 24. 'Managing the administrative affairs in a ministry is a serious responsibility. And there's a real risk of being surrounded and swayed by bureaucrats,' Mr Jang said. 'And if Mr Kim strongly believes the Labour Ministry should be more pro-labour and focused on creating policies favorable to workers, he might appoint those who fully share his vision. But this could lead to serious conflict between the minister's office and the ministry itself,' he added. Representative Song Eon-seog, floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, criticised Mr Kim's nomination, warning that it signals the start of the KCTU's political agenda seeping into government policy. The presidential office said that Mr Kim was nominated as a figure who has represented workers. 'We expect him to play a key role in strengthening the rights of working people by working with different issues such as industrial accidents, the 'Yellow Envelope Law' and a 4.5-day workweek system,' said Mr Kang Hoon-sik, the chief of staff to the president, in a briefing on June 23. On June 23, the KCTU and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, South Korea's other major labour group, lambasted the Labour Ministry for failing to represent the voices of workers, fueling conflict, and turning a blind eye to widespread discrimination in the workplace. 'Lee's government must abandon the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's anti-labour policies and pursue a major shift in state affairs to guarantee labour rights. The union expects the labour minister nominee to fully recognize the pressing tasks of our time and to faithfully fulfill his duties as the Labour Minister in guaranteeing workers' rights,' the KCTU said in an official statement. The FKTU also urged Mr Kim not to rely on political parties' stances, economic reasoning or bureaucratic minds. The union expressed its hopes for the labour minister nominee to pursue meaningful progress through social dialogue and consensus between workers, management and government. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Change in S. Korean government leaves foreign domestic worker programme in limbo
The programme drew concerns ranging from job scope and oversight to worker protection and cost. PHOTO: EPA-EFE SEOUL - South Korea's pilot programme for overseas domestic workers is now hanging in the balance, with no clear path forward after months of delays, labour disputes, and a new administration that had voiced skepticism about the system in the past. The Ministry of Employment and Labour had pledged to finalise a long-term version for the programme by mid-2025, but nothing has been put forward. Vice-Labour Minister and acting Minister Kim Min-seok said on June 15 that it 'won't be easy' to expand beyond the pilot programme within June . Launched in September 2024, the initiative aimed to ease pressure on working parents by hiring 100 trained domestic workers from the Philippines to assist with child care and housework in Seoul. It was framed as a response to South Korea's record-low birthrate and the growing strain on dual-income families. The project gained support from former president Yoon Suk Yeol, but it now faces uncertainty following his removal in April. His successor, Mr Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, assumed office on June 4, representing a party that has consistently raised concerns about the initiative. Filipino caretaker system face criticism over cost, labour issues From the beginning, the programme drew concerns ranging from job scope and oversight to worker protection and cost. South Korea is a signatory to international labour agreements that require countries to give foreign workers the same minimum wage rights as Korean workers. That pushed the initial the service fee to 13,940 won per hour (S$13), including the minimum wage, insurance and other mandatory costs. As of 2025, that rate has risen to 16,800 won. Critics argue the high service fees means the programme is only accessible to high-income households. According to city data, 43 per cent of applications came from just three of Seoul's wealthiest districts: Gangnam, Seocho and Songpa. The city government has also faced mounting issues from workers themselves. Some reported delayed wages, while others said they were asked to perform duties not covered by their contracts, such as pet care, English tutoring, or visiting employers' extended families. It was alleged last week that the two workers deported for leaving their posts were subject to severe exploitation during their stay here. Allegations included excessive working hours and the authorities' refusal to address the issue. The ministry denied the claims in an official statement. In May, Vice-Labor Minister Kim acknowledged the challenges, saying satisfaction among participating families was high at 84 per cent, but wage issues and unclear employment boundaries remained unresolved. Labour groups, including the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions, have called for a pause and full review of the programme. 'There are still serious issues with delayed wages, unclear job descriptions, and a lack of proper oversight,' the group said after the government announced a one-year extension of the pilot in February. In 2023, Democratic Party spokesperson Lee So-young also criticised the underlying logic of such programmes, arguing that foreign domestic workers haven't improved birthrates in places like Hong Kong and Singapore. Despite the political headwinds, the domestic workers currently in Korea are expected to stay because their employment permits have been extended through early 2026. 'Even if this programme ends, those with renewed contracts can keep working as domestic helpers, and in principle, they may be reassigned to other service jobs like hotels or restaurants within the permitted sectors,' a Labour Ministry official said. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
South China Morning Post
12-02-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Seoul's Filipino carer programme faces uncertainty amid private sector take over
Published: 6:18pm, 12 Feb 2025 The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Ministry of Employment and Labour will hand over the operation of the Filipino carer programme to the private sector starting in March, following the completion of a six-month pilot phase that received mixed reviews. Launched last year, the pilot programme was initially expected to expand nationwide in the first half of this year to alleviate child care burdens in light of South Korea 's declining birth rate by providing foreign caregiving workers to local households. However, lukewarm responses from local governments outside Seoul, coupled with concerns over high costs, had put those plans on hold. While the trial period is set to end this month, a city official confirmed that ongoing services for taking part households will continue. As the labour ministry has not yet decided whether to expand the initiative into a full-scale programme, private operators are expected to take over the service for the time being. Meanwhile, concerns are growing over potential higher fees as the Filipino carer programme transitions to private management. Seoul's Filipino carer programme, launched to address South Korea's declining birth rate, faces uncertainty as it transitions to private management. Photo: EPA-EFE/YONHAP Recently, companies managing Filipino carers notified users of a planned hourly rate hike from 13,940 won to 16,900 won (US$9.61 to US$11.63) starting on March 1. However, they later withdrew the decision after facing backlash. The labour ministry also clarified that the final service fee has yet to be determined.
