Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries to Conduct Pre-Chuseok Inspections to Prevent Unpaid Seafarer Wages and Safety Accidents

[Financial News] With the Chuseok holiday approaching, the Busan Regional Office of Oceans and Fisheries announced on the 2nd that it will conduct focused inspections to stabilize people's livelihoods and ensure safety at port sites, including measures to prevent unpaid seafarer wages and safety accidents.


The inspections will cover a broad range of livelihood and safety issues, including payments at construction sites, ahead of Chuseok. To this end, the office will simultaneously conduct an intensive inspection of payment practices at port construction sites and a special labor inspection to resolve wage arrears through the 18th. It will also carry out a special inspection of vulnerable areas in the Port of Busan from the 14th through the 21st.
The Busan Port Construction Office, an affiliate of the regional office, is first checking whether subcontracting payments and other fees remain unpaid at 12 major construction sites, including Busan New Port, Jinhae New Port, and the North Port underpass. It will also focus on securing funds so payments can be made immediately when construction companies submit payment requests.
A special inspection team made up of seafarer labor inspectors is also conducting focused inspections of workplaces with frequent wage arrears over the past three years. The office plans to provide guidance so that any unpaid wages can be settled before the holiday.
A reporting center for unpaid seafarer wages will also operate to enable an immediate response to complaints. If corrective measures, such as payment orders, are not implemented, the office plans to take strong action, including referring cases to prosecutors.
Beginning on the 14th, special inspections will target vulnerable areas, including major routes, anchorages, and small-vessel mooring areas in the Port of Busan, to establish order in vessel traffic and prevent maritime accidents. The inspections will cover both sea and land, focusing on Busan North Port, Gamcheon Harbor, and Busan New Port.
The inspections will focus on vessels that have remained inactive for long periods at lighter wharves and anchorages, where ships are concentrated, as well as the mooring conditions of tugboats and barges. On-site enforcement against illegal ship repairs and fishing activities will also be strengthened. In addition, an emergency contact system will be established with related agencies, including the Busan Port Authority (BPA) and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation, to enable rapid on-site responses and coordinated action in the event of a maritime accident or emergency during the holiday period.
Safety inspections will also be conducted at three heavily used port facilities expected to see increased visitors during the Chuseok holiday, including the Busan New Port West Breakwater. Inspectors will focus on identifying hazards such as facility damage and cracks, as well as checking the condition of safety facilities, including guardrails and vehicle barriers. Any hazards found will be removed in advance.
[email protected] Ok-hwan Byun Reporter