산재로 연 3명 이상 사망시 ‘영업이익 5%’ 과징금…9월 국회 문턱 넘을까

A proposed amendment to the Industrial Safety and Health Act, which would impose a fine equivalent to up to 5% of a company's operating income for causing the deaths of three or more workers in a single incident, is expected to be passed by the National Assembly's regular session in September. The amendment, which has already cleared the relevant parliamentary committees, would allow the Ministry of Employment and Labor to establish detailed regulations on the amount of the fine based on factors such as the company's size, the number of fatalities, and the company's efforts to prevent and address the causes of the accident.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has indicated that they will consider a range of factors before imposing the fine, including the nature and severity of the violation, the proportion of fatalities relative to the total workforce, and the company's efforts to prevent and mitigate future accidents. In addition, the amendment would expand the scope of the workers' right to stop work in case of dangerous conditions, requiring employers to take appropriate measures to address these conditions.

The amendment also includes provisions to address climate-related risks, such as extreme heat and cold, flooding, and typhoons, in construction work. The Ministry of Employment and Labor has been actively promoting workplace safety measures in recent months, including targeted inspections and enforcement in high-risk industries.