A worker gulps down water at a construction site in the southwestern city of Gwangju on Jul. 31, 2023. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – Calls for the right to take breaks during heatwaves are intensifying in South Korea, as summers grow hotter due to climate change.
Over the last five years, a total of 23 workers have succumbed to heat-related ailments such as heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps while on the job.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reports that between May 20 and August 23, 2,632 individuals were diagnosed with heat-related conditions, with an estimated 31 deaths due to heat-related causes.
This marks the highest number of casualties since 2018.
A survey conducted by the construction union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions polled 3,206 construction workers, revealing that 81.7 percent of respondents admitted to working even during heat waves.
Article 566 in the guidelines for industrial safety and health mandates that workers should take sufficient breaks when working in spaces exposed to high temperatures, leaving them susceptible to heatstroke.
However, specific criteria for what constitutes an adequate break are notably absent.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
