The Ministry of Labor and Employment announced tighter safety regulations and support measures for manufacturing facilities in an effort to protect foreign employees in response to the deadly fire that killed 23 Aricell factory workers...

The plan, announced Tuesday, includes up to 100 million won ($73,000) in financial support for workplaces to install fire detection and alarm systems or change passageway designs for better evacuation; conduct mandatory safety training for all foreign workers; and implement stricter risk assessment screening for firm.

The finances for the support measures will be partially covered by raising the rate for safety management expenses companies pay to contractors by an average of 19 percent, the Labor Ministry said. Safety management expenses are covered by companies for construction work, and the contractor is required by law to use the payment toward employee safety and health. The rate had been the same for the last 10 years.

Contractors were required to pay for 60 percent of the safety technology and equipment used to prevent accidents, while 40 percent had been covered by the safety management expenses. The burden on contractors will be cut down to 30 percent in 2025, and down to zero in 2026...

The ministry also proposed a consultation program for industrial sites that have evaluated themselves to fall short of safety standards, which will provide consultations and mandate interviews with company heads within three months, with checkups six months after the consulting ends...

Inspections will be conducted at 200 manufacturing facilities that are at high risk of fires or explosions and have not been reviewed in the last three years.

This is in response to criticism over the exemption of Aricell’s Hwaseong factory from inspection despite it being a high-risk production site, and three consecutive years of Risk Assessment Certification.

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