Small Korean companies required to create rest areas for employees from August

“Relax Room” in Korea Culture Promotion Inc. [Photo by Kim Si-gyun]

A new labor requirement making rest areas mandatory at small businesses with 20 or more full-time workers will go into force in South Korea from August.

The requirement has been introduced as part of an amendment to the decree of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, after one year of transitional period to expand the application of the requirement to businesses with 20 or more but fewer than 50 employees.

Until now, the mandatory rest area requirement was applied only to businesses with 50 or more workers.

There are an estimated 230,000 small and medium-sized enterprises subject to the new requirement, with about 20,000 of them currently having no such rest areas, according to the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Under the amendment, workplaces with 20 or more full-time workers, construction projects that cost 2 billion won ($1.55 million) or more, and workplaces with 10 or more full-time workers and two or more workers in seven occupations, will newly face the mandatory rest area requirement from August 18.

The seven occupations are telephone counselors, care service workers, telemarketers, delivery workers, cleaners and sanitation workers, apartment superintendents, and building security guards.

The rest area must have a minimum space of 6 square meters, with a ceiling height of at least 2.1 meters, and be located away from fire and explosion hazards, dust and noise. It must have air-conditioning and heating systems to keep the temperature between 18 and 28 degrees Celsius, as well as chairs and drinking water.

The new requirement is anticipated to boost morale and increase work efficiency.

One of the good examples is Korea Culture Promotion Inc.

In the basement of the office building, it has a 12-square-meter rest area for its staff. Labeled as the “Relax Room,” the rest area is equipped with a plush sofa and a height-adjustable bed, and is available to all employees by reservation during the work hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The company says that its rest area has helped to increase satisfaction among its employees, as well as their attachment to the company and work efficiency.

Maeil Business Newspaper and healthcare electronics company Ceragem Co. are promoting a campaign, titled, “Good Workplaces Start with Rest Areas,” sponsored by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Federation of SMEs.

As part of the campaign, best practices among SMEs to install rest areas will be shared, while consulting services in relation to the construction of rest areas will be provided. Any small businesses seeking consulting services can reach out via phone (02-565-4467) or e-mail (science@mk.co.kr).

The labor ministry and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, in the meantime, is providing up to 30 million won in aid in support of small businesses to set up rest areas to improve workers’ health and to ensure their right to rest. Businesses seeking a joint rest area can receive up to 100 million won within 70 percent of the cost.