Minister Kim Young-hoon: "Illegal Subcontracting by Public Institutions Will Not Be Tolerated... Public Sector Must Lead in Safety Management"

[Financial News] On the 4th, Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) convened the Emergency Safety Measures Meeting for Public Institutions at the Seoul Regional Employment and Labor Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT). The government discussed strategies to eradicate serious industrial accidents and prevent illegal subcontracting in the public sector, calling for thorough management and leadership in industrial safety.
The meeting was attended by the heads of 20 major public institutions, including those that have experienced fatalities in direct, subcontracted, or commissioned construction projects, as well as those overseeing multiple projects. Minister Kim urged these leaders to faithfully implement industrial safety management measures.
Minister Kim stated, "With the goal of eradicating industrial accidents starting from the public sector, we must mobilize every means and method to proactively create safe workplaces." He added, "To strengthen safety management at construction sites commissioned by public institutions, we will designate November as a 'focused inspection period.'"
Accordingly, public institutions are required to conduct self-inspections to ensure compliance with safety regulations at their construction sites and submit the results to MOEL. MOEL will also carry out unannounced inspections at sites where safety measures are deemed insufficient.
Additionally, labor authorities plan to review the operation of the Safety and Labor Council, which integrates labor-management consultation between main contractors and subcontractors in public institutions, through the end of the year. Institutions found to be non-compliant will be actively guided toward improvement.
Minister Kim emphasized, "Illegal subcontracting in the public sector will not be tolerated under any circumstances." He continued, "For six key sectors, including power generation, energy, and airports, we will develop joint improvement measures with relevant ministries based on a survey of subcontracting practices. At the same time, we will work closely with MOLIT to ensure that construction periods and costs are sufficiently guaranteed to maintain quality and safety at construction sites."
He further noted, "The public sector must first establish a management culture centered on safety so that this approach can spread to the private sector as well. MOEL will also strengthen safety education and enhance the evaluation of safety management."
jhyuk@fnnews.com Kim Jun-hyuk Reporter