"Heat-related incidents could have been prevented…" The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions reiterates its call for 'heatwave measures'

Due to the ongoing heatwave, migrant workers have faced fatal accidents in industrial sites.

In response, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has once again urged the revision of the 'heatwave response regulations', which were scrapped due to recommendations for reassessment by the Regulatory Reform Committee under President Yoon Suk-yeol's government.

On the 8th, according to reports from the Gyeongbuk Fire Department and the Gumi Police Station, a 20-something temporary worker from Vietnam, identified as A, was found dead the previous day (7th) at a construction site of an apartment in Gumi, Gyeongbuk.

After arriving at the site for the first time on that day, A was found collapsed in a seated position in the basement of the construction site while working on formwork installation. Emergency responders arrived following a colleague's report; however, A had already passed away on the scene.

The police and health authorities suspect that A's cause of death was heat-related illness, citing the discovery of A's body at a body temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius. However, the exact cause will be determined through an autopsy.

Two days after the incident, on the 8th, the KCTU released a statement saying, "This death, presumed to be due to heat-related illness, starkly reveals the poor working conditions where even basic safety measures are not observed amid a heatwave." They condemned the complacent attitude of the government and employers in a situation where workers are being pushed towards death.

They also stated, "Heat is a disaster, and this incident was a preventable death," emphasizing that "the worksite remains neglected."

Furthermore, they criticized, "Currently, the Ministry of Employment and Labor has limited preventive measures for employers regarding heatwaves to 'guidance recommendations.'" They pointed out, "If legal enforcement provisions had been properly implemented, the workers would have been guaranteed breaks every 2 hours and 20 minutes, adjusted work hours, and minimum safety measures like the installation of portable air conditioning."

Additionally, they claimed, "While the Ministry of Labor created a revision of the industrial safety and health standards, the Regulatory Reform Committee obstructed it citing 'burdens on businesses.'" They argued, "As a result of prioritizing regulatory relaxation over human life, workers are dying without any protection in the heatwave."

The KCTU particularly asserted, "It is the state's duty to protect workers' lives during disasters," urging the Ministry of Labor to immediately promote the revision of the heatwave response regulations, including "20-minute breaks after 2 hours of work."

They insisted that "responsibilities of employers must be clarified, and practical measures such as mandatory work stoppage during extreme heat, installation of portable air conditioners, and sufficient rest time must be legislated." They added, "The Regulatory Reform Committee must immediately withdraw its recommendations for the relaxation of industrial safety and health regulations. Moreover, we strongly demand the establishment of effective mandatory regulations to prevent recurring tragedies."

Previously, the KCTU held a press conference on the 2nd of last month, condemning the failure of the revision of industrial safety and health standards, stating, "A 20-minute break after 2 hours of work with a perceived temperature of 33 degrees is the bare minimum." They warned that failure to implement such measures could lead to fatal risks to life and health.

Image source: On the 8th, during an ongoing heatwave with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees, workers are seen drinking water during their break at the construction site of the Gwangju Buk-gu Office's new building. / News1. A thermal camera view of the Seoul city center, which appeared red due to high temperatures, taken from Namsan in Seoul on the 7th, the day the first heatwave warning of the summer was issued across the city. / News1. On the 2nd of last month, KCTU officials held a press conference in front of the Government Seoul Building in Jongno, Seoul, condemning the Regulatory Reform Committee for policies that lead to the death of workers amid heat. / News1.