Governor Choo Mi-ae: "Labor Innovation Started by the 7th Gyeonggi Administration to Be Completed by the 9th"

Gyeonggi Province and Ministry of Employment and Labor Sign Local Labor Inspection Agreement
Addressing Labor Safety Blind Spots with Introduction of Local Labor Inspectors
Beginning a New Era with 170 Local Labor Inspectors

Gyeonggi Province is embarking on a new era of "Local Labor Inspectors," shifting away from a labor inspection system centered on the central government to one more closely aligned with regional realities. To prevent industrial accidents and labor rights violations at small businesses in the province, Gyeonggi will deploy around 170 local labor inspectors and establish a collaborative system with the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Gyeonggi Province Government Building. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

On July 22, Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae and Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon signed a "Joint Agreement to Establish a Central-Local Labor Inspection Cooperation System" at the Gyeonggi Regional Employment and Labor Office.

This agreement aims to clearly delineate the responsibilities of the central and local governments so that local governments can reliably carry out labor inspection duties, in line with the "Labor Inspector Work Execution Act," which is scheduled to go into effect on December 8.

Under the agreement, Gyeonggi Province will establish a dedicated organization responsible for labor standards and industrial safety inspections and will build a labor administration system focused on proactive prevention. The province will also promote programs to help small business owners comply with labor laws and regulations.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor has committed to improving laws and systems to delegate local labor inspection authority. It will also provide training and education to strengthen the capabilities of local labor inspectors, and develop measures for administrative and financial support.

Governor Choo Mi-ae stated on the day, "It is very meaningful that Gyeonggi Province and the Ministry of Employment and Labor have joined forces and taken the first step together to achieve the shared goal of respecting labor," adding, "Today’s joint agreement ceremony is the gateway to a society that values labor."

She went on to say, "Gyeonggi Province has already started to recruit 170 local labor inspectors in line with the implementation of the Labor Inspector Work Execution Act in December," emphasizing, "During the President's tenure as Gyeonggi Governor, he requested that the central government introduce local labor inspectors to address blind spots in labor safety. The labor innovation launched by the 7th popularly elected Gyeonggi administration will be completed by the 9th."

Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Young-hoon commented, "The answer in labor administration is always found at the workplace," adding, "Gyeonggi Province is a local government with a solid track record of on-site experience, so the Ministry will do its utmost to support this proactive initiative."

The reason Gyeonggi Province is accelerating the introduction of local labor inspectors is due to the unique structure of its regional labor market. Small businesses with fewer than 30 employees account for 96% of all businesses in the province, leading to ongoing concerns that the existing central government workforce cannot thoroughly oversee every workplace.

In particular, incidents such as the fire at the Hwaseong Arisel plant and other major accidents at small workplaces have increased the need for site-based, preventive labor inspections.

During the second half of the year, Gyeonggi Province will establish a dedicated organization for labor standards and industrial safety inspections and has been conducting an open recruitment for 170 local labor inspectors since July 1.

Going forward, local labor inspectors will directly visit small businesses and vulnerable workplaces—areas that have been difficult for the central government to reach—to inspect compliance with labor laws and carry out activities to prevent industrial accidents.

Since her tenure as governor-elect, Governor Choo has made the introduction of local labor inspectors a core labor policy. Gyeonggi Province’s transition committee for the 9th popularly elected administration, known as the Gyeonggi Preparation Committee, also listed the prompt implementation of local labor inspectors as its first policy proposal.

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