Vietnamese worker dies on first day at construction site in Gumi with a body temperature over 40 degrees
On the afternoon of the 7th at around 5:30 PM, a 23-year-old Vietnamese worker, Mr. A, was found dead at an apartment construction site in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. After finishing work at 4 PM, he left claiming he was going to the restroom but never returned.
Mr. A was discovered sitting against a wall and had a body temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius at the time of discovery. Authorities believe that the possibility of death from a heat-related illness is significant. Generally, when body temperature reaches 40 degrees, the risk of fainting increases, and if it exceeds 41 degrees, major organs such as the brain and heart can be damaged, leading to death.
On the day of his death, the midday temperature in Gumi soared to 38.3 degrees, marking the highest record since weather observations began. Mr. A started his first day of work at 8:30 AM, and it is reported that most Korean workers had already left for the day by the time he died.
Discrimination against foreign workers during a heat wave with flexible work hours
At this site, working hours have been adjusted to allow workers to start at 6 AM and finish at 1 PM when a heat wave warning is issued. However, it is known that undocumented foreign workers like Mr. A have been unable to request such protective measures.
On the 9th, the Daegu and North Gyeongsang Provincial Construction Branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference in front of the Daegu Regional Employment Labor Office, stating, "There are allegations that while native workers were given breaks, foreign workers were made to work as usual. The construction industry's practice of prioritizing cost reduction and shortening work periods at the expense of safety has led to this tragedy."
Investigation into possible violations of the Serious Accidents Act… Potential criminal penalties for employers
The Ministry of Employment and Labor has issued a work stoppage order for the site and is investigating potential violations of the Industrial Safety and Health Act and the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, including whether heat illness prevention education was implemented. Under current law, if a worker, including a foreigner, dies from a heat-related illness, the employer can face criminal penalties.
The police plan to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of Mr. A's death.
Request for mandatory "more than 20 minutes of rest every two hours"
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has been pushing for a policy to mandate over 20 minutes of rest every two hours when the perceived temperature is above 33 degrees. However, implementation has been delayed due to a review recommendation from the Regulatory Reform Committee.
Recently, the Ministry has requested a reassessment and intends to expedite the establishment of safety measures for workers during heat waves.
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