Gyeonggi-do Promotes 'Shared Labor Inspection Authority Cooperation' Between Central and Local Governments

Sharing Research Service Results and Proposing Measures to the National Assembly and Ministry of Employment and Labor

[Asia Economy Reporter La Youngcheol] Gyeonggi Province is promoting an 'agency delegation type' in which labor inspection authority is divided between the central government and local governments.

On the 11th, the province stated, "Since April, we have been conducting a 'Research Service on the Introduction and Effectiveness of a Shared Cooperation Model for Labor Inspection Authority of Local Governments' to resolve labor site issues that cannot be solved by centralized labor inspection administration through a shared authority approach between central and local governments."

The shared cooperation model proposed by the province centers on local governments receiving delegated authority only for tasks suitable to be performed under the supervision of the Ministry of Employment and Labor, rather than acting as independent agencies, to carry out labor inspections.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor is responsible for labor inspection standards, labor inspector work regulations and training, and establishing and implementing annual labor inspection plans, while local governments execute labor inspection administration according to the ministry’s guidelines and manuals, thus dividing roles.

However, since the conditions for performing labor inspection tasks vary by local government, a 'differential application method' is applied to grant authority differently depending on the size and circumstances of the local government.

The province also proposed establishing a 'Labor Improvement Promotion Team' at the Gyeonggi Province headquarters as an organization at the local government level, and setting up labor inspection centers or branch offices in 31 cities and counties considering workplaces and number of workers.

The appropriate labor inspection targets for local governments are workplaces with fewer than 30 regular employees.

The suitable duties include eight general labor inspection areas such as workplace inspections (petition inspections), labor management guidance, and wage arrears settlement guidance, as well as seven industrial safety and health labor inspection areas including workplace checks and investigations, accident investigations and measures, and handling of reported cases.

Through the research service, the province focused on analyzing structural problems of the current system, proposing a shared cooperation model for central and local labor inspection authority, its necessity and direction, and related legislative amendment plans.

To ensure effective implementation, the province is sharing progress with related agencies such as the National Assembly and the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and plans to recommend the model to the National Assembly’s Environment and Labor Committee to be reflected in government policy.

In this regard, National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee members Yoon Junbyung and Lim Jongsung have proposed bills related to sharing labor inspection authority, and Representative Lee Sujin (proportional representation) is reportedly promoting amendments to the Labor Standards Act and other laws based on the province’s recommendations.

Kim Jonggu, Director of the Labor Bureau, said, "Through the pilot project applying the 'Shared Cooperation Model for Labor Inspection Authority between Central and Local Governments' with differential application to local governments, we expect to strengthen a field-centered labor inspection system and prevent industrial safety accidents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.