Gyeonggi Province Launches Inspection of Construction Sites Ahead of Chuseok to Prevent Wage Arrears

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Ahead of the Chuseok holiday, Gyeonggi Province is launching an inspection to prevent wage and payment arrears (including subcontracts and equipment) on construction sites ordered by the province (including affiliated and public institutions) and cities and counties (including affiliated and public institutions).

The province announced on the 28th that it will conduct an on-site inspection from August 30 to September 12 to prevent arrears by ensuring early payment of construction costs so that construction workers, subcontractors, and equipment operators do not face economic hardship.

Key inspection items will include △payment principles (deadlines) △protection of project funds △management of wage and payment distributions, among others. Through this inspection, Gyeonggi Province plans to immediately rectify any violations such as wage and payment arrears (subcontracts and equipment) discovered, and will take stern measures in accordance with relevant regulations if not complied with.

Additionally, the province is operating the "Wage Arrears Prevention Task Force" established in January this year as part of creating a Gyeonggi Province free from construction wage arrears. When complaints regarding wage arrears at construction sites in the province are received, the task force undergoes a process of requesting clarification, review, joint meetings, and cooperative inspections before reaching settlements.

As of the end of August 2024, a total of 33 cases (12 subcontracts, 21 construction equipment) were received, with 14 cases (arrears resolution amount of 2.407 billion won) resolved. This represents approximately 140% performance compared to the arrears resolution amount from 2023 (1.716 billion won).

Lee Myung-sun, Director of the Construction Policy Division, said, "We will do our best to ensure that all construction site workers can enjoy a happy Chuseok free from wage arrears by carefully examining not only wages and subcontract and equipment payments at government-ordered construction sites commissioned by the province and cities and counties, but also restaurants, gas stations, and other related establishments."

Complaints about unfair practices by general construction companies in the province, such as wage arrears for subcontracting and construction equipment rental payments, can be reported to the "Subcontracting Irregularity Reporting Center" (Gyeonggi Province website > Civil Complaints > Subcontracting Irregularity Report or 031-8030-3842~4, 8).