Kang Nam Labor Law Firm

On June 24, 2024, a fire broke out at the 'Aricel' battery manufacturing plant, resulting in the deaths of 23 people, 18 of whom were temporary foreign workers. Foreigners are not permitted to engage in temporary or dispatched work. At the time, out of approximately 100 workers on-site, around 50 were illegally employed foreigners. This illegal employment practice often only comes to light and is corrected when major accidents occur. The previous Moon Jae-in administration hired around 1,000 labor inspectors to conduct regular labor inspections. However, the current government has refrained from regular inspections, leading to the spread of illegal foreign dispatches and temporary work. To prevent illegal labor law violations like those seen in the Aricel tragedy, proactive labor inspections are essential.
The urgent need to create this 'Labor Inspection Manual' arose from experiencing the importance of labor inspections first-hand during the Aricel disaster. This manual consists of three chapters. Chapter 1 presents actual labor inspection cases, explaining the process of inspections and the subsequent actions required. Chapter 2 details the 'Self-Diagnosis Checklist for Compliance with Labor Relations Laws' published annually by the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Chapter 3 provides background knowledge and related cases for a comprehensive understanding of 16 different areas of labor inspection. The appendix includes instructions on how to use the labor inspection checklist available in the mobile app provided by KangNam Labor Law Firm.
It is hoped that this 'Labor Inspection Manual' will serve not only as a preparation guide for labor inspections in workplaces but also as a basic manual for companies to check their compliance with labor laws. In particular, it aims to be a guideline to prevent accidents that may occur in workplaces and to create a safe working environment.
In the publication of this book, my co-author, Legal Team Leader Tae-uk Ahn, diligently compiled and organized labor-related materials, and his advice on legal interpretations greatly enhanced the completeness of this book. I also extend my gratitude to Young-chul Jung for his editorial and publishing efforts, allowing this book to come to light. Special thanks to my long-time friend and English proofreader, Dave Crofton.