Lee Jae-myung: "Share labor inspection authority so local governments can conduct on-site supervision"

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung has once again voiced the opinion that labor inspection authority should be shared between the central government and local governments.

On the 25th, Governor Lee stated through his SNS, "Last year, the number of industrial accident fatalities was 882 according to government official statistics. No one works with the intention of dying. The problem is that the number of labor inspectors is critically insufficient." He explained the background, saying, "With nearly 20 million workers in South Korea, there are only 2,400 labor inspectors, and each labor inspector is in charge of about 900 workplaces."

He continued, "While it would be ideal to increase the number of labor inspectors, given practical difficulties, I have consistently requested that inspection authority be 'shared' so local governments can conduct on-site supervision. However, the Ministry of Employment and Labor is showing reluctance to Gyeonggi Province's request." He added, "Gyeonggi Province's demand is not to abolish the central government's labor inspectors, but to separately establish labor inspectors at the local government level in addition to those that must be maintained by the central government."

Governor Lee further stated, "The time the Ministry of Labor delays could mean precious moments for workers in the blind spots of industrial safety. I urge the Ministry of Labor once again to take a forward-looking approach to this issue." He concluded, "I also make a request to the National Assembly. I earnestly ask the members of the Environment and Labor Committee to lend your efforts."

The following is the full text of Governor Lee Jae-myung's SNS post.

<There is no time to delay for industrial workers>
Last year, industrial accident fatalities numbered 882 according to government official statistics alone. No one works with the intention of dying. They work to live. However, due to lax regulations and supervision, a vicious cycle has emerged where companies choose compensation after accidents rather than safety measures.
The problem is that the number of labor inspectors is critically insufficient. With nearly 20 million workers in South Korea, there are only 2,400 labor inspectors, and each labor inspector is responsible for about 900 workplaces. It is barely sufficient even to process documents.
While increasing the number of labor inspectors would be ideal, given practical difficulties, I have consistently requested that inspection authority be 'shared' so local governments can conduct on-site supervision. However, the Ministry of Employment and Labor is showing reluctance to Gyeonggi Province's request.
Moreover, the ministry even claims there is a risk of violating ILO Convention No. 81, Article 4, Paragraph 1 (labor inspection should be under the supervision and management of the central authority, unless contrary to the administrative practice of member states).
Gyeonggi Province's demand is not to abolish the central government's labor inspectors, but to separately establish labor inspectors at the local government level in addition to those that must be maintained by the central government.
Even with a very conservative interpretation of the ILO Convention, if the Ministry of Employment and Labor maintains unified and final supervision and management authority, there is no problem with local governments sharing labor inspection authority.
Six lawyers who provided legal advice to Gyeonggi Province on the exercise of labor inspection authority have also stated that it does not violate the ILO Convention.
I have raised this issue more than twenty times, but the Ministry of Labor continues to defer related legislative amendments, citing the need for serious review. The time the Ministry of Labor delays could mean precious moments for workers in the blind spots of industrial safety. I urge the Ministry of Labor once again to take a forward-looking approach to this issue.
I also make a request to the National Assembly. Representative Yun Jun-byeong submitted amendments to the Labor Standards Act on two occasions, in July and November of last year, to enable local governments to share supervision authority over illegal activities in the workplace. I earnestly request that Chairperson Song Ok-joo and the members of the Environment and Labor Committee work to ensure that this bill, currently pending in the National Assembly's Environment and Labor Committee, passes through the National Assembly as soon as possible.